A boy is being treated for serious burns after reports that he was "on fire" in a city street. The seven-year-old was hurt during the incident in Aberdeen, at around 2pm on Friday. Police said they received "reports of a boy on fire" and they are following a positive line of inquiry.

Petrol was said to have been involved in the incident. The boy was taken to Royal Aberdeen children's hospital where his injuries have been described as serious.

One of the boy's neighbours, Victoria-Jayne Pirie, told the BBC: "When we came out we'd heard him screaming. He'd been lying on the floor trying to get himself calm but nothing was working and he just ran up the back gardens screaming and crying. He was outside in the back garden … then he ran inside the building."

Another neighbour, Shona Henderson, said: "I saw his clothes lying on the ground and his shoes all over the floor and fire still there. By the time we got there [his clothing] was sticking to his skin – it looked like it had melted into his skin."

Bedford Avenue has been closed to traffic while officers investigate. A police spokesman said: "A seven-year-old boy is undergoing treatment following an incident in … in Aberdeen. It was reported to us at 2pm this afternoon. The incident involves petrol and the boy has quite serious burns. Police are following a positive line of inquiry."