Chainsaw man sets himself alight

The 42-year-old is said to be in a stable condition after being transferred from the Conquest Hospital to a specialist burns unit at an undisclosed hospital.

Officers from East Sussex Fire and Rescue service also put out a small fire at the Preston Road flat where the trouble occurred on March 24.

Other weapons including an axe and a machete were later recovered from the property.

Police attended the scene at just after 8pm following reports a man had assaulted a neighbour.

The occupant of the ground floor flat locked himself inside the building and told officers he was armed.

Rother's specialist police support unit was then called in.

Protected behind riot shields, and with support from the fire service, police tried to negotiate with the man from outside the flat.

Seven residents from nearby homes were evacuated for safety reasons.

Rother CID said: "During this attempted negotiation the man became more and more agitated and continued to make threats.

"A fire was started by the man inside the flat and police officers were forced to enter with the fire service to extinguish the fire.

"The man inside then approached officers pouring petrol over himself.

"The petrol ignited and the man became engulfed in flames. The fire was quickly extinguished by the fire service."

The scene was examined by a forensic scientist from the fire service. Police enquiries are continuing.