An Ilkley woman last night told of the “awful” sight of discovering a 58-year-old man with fatal burns in an alleyway.

The victim, who has not been named, died as a result of the serious burns he suffered in an incident after being found in the alleyway behind houses in Dean Street, Ilkley, at about 8.40pm on Friday.

It is believed the man may have set himself on fire and he was taken to Airedale General Infirmary, but did not recover from his injuries.

Sally Raistrick, who went to help the man, described the horrible scene and how people tried to help the man.

But she said there was nothing anybody could do for the man after the alarm was raised by a passer-by.

Miss Raistrick said she heard a woman behind her home calling for help and wet towels and initially thought there was a vehicle on fire.

She went outside with a towel and spotted an “pile of something burning”, before she noticed the man.

Read more about this story in the Gazette & Observer this week.