A woman in Florida has doused her boyfriend with nail polish remover and set him alight after a dispute over their dinner.

According to police in the town of Clearwater, Melissa Dawn Sellers used a lighter or cigarette to set Carlos Ortiz Jr on fire.

Mr Ortiz, 42, was taken to hospital with burns on his face, chest and shoulders.

He is reported to be in a critical condition.

Police believe the two got into the argument after a night of drinking.

Local reports said the dispute started when the man threw out the spaghetti and meatballs cooked by Sellers.

Neighbour, Ines Causevic, was quoted by Bay 9 News as saying: "She was setting little objects on fire, then that turned into pouring nail polish remover all over him, and then all of a sudden, the lighter sparked and he lit on fire.”

"When he got up, his face was like melting off, it was pink and sore," said Ms Causevic, who said she threw water on him.

"His lips were burning."

Sellers has been charged with aggravated battery. According to the reports, she had already faced arrest for battery and robbery.