As 15-year-old Craig MacLeod fought desperately to put out the flames that had taken hold of his left trouser leg, his attackers ran off
leaving him to his fate.

Today, his angry father said that Craig, whose left leg was left badly
burnt and blistered, could have died in the callous attack and the family hoped the two attackers are caught quickly.

The attack happened on wasteground near the Belle Vue underpass
at Stanground as Craig made his way to play five-a-side football
and passed two youths setting fire to rubbish and nearby trees.

Craig said that one of the youths had thrown a petrol can onto the fire
and then once it landed on the floor covered in flames, kicked it at his leg.

He said: "The boy who kicked the petrol can at me was just laughing.
"I was jumping in the air trying to get the flames off but they wouldn't
go away and I could feel it burning through my trousers.

"The boy carried on laughing while I tried to pat it out and rolled
on the floor. He and his friend then ran away.

"It was such a nasty thing to do, I am only 15 and I was only walking
past, I never did them any harm."

After putting out the flames on his leg, Craig went to the nearby Stanground fire station where firefighters called paramedics.

They treated his leg at the scene for burns and his parents
were called.

Craig's dad, Andy Macleod (47) said: "It was fortunate that
he was wearing his school clothes. Had he been wearing his nylon tracksuit bottoms it could have been a whole different story, maybe even a fatality.

"Craig was pretty shocked and will now be scarred for life, he didn't deserve that, it could have ruined his life."

The teenager's mum, Debbie Boyden (42) added: "The police have been round and taken photos and statements, we just hope these people are now caught.

"He is alright, but it is extremely painful so I am keeping him off school for now.

"It is disgusting that people out there can do such a thing."

Crew manager at Stanground fire station, Jeremy Corney, said: "Any kind of fire has the potential to get out of control, even a small fire.

"In this instance it looks as if a can of petrol caused it to flare up
and engulf the youngster's leg."

A police spokesman said officers are investigating the incident, which happened on Wednesday, as an assault causing actual bodily harm.