A homeless man was burned to death after a man threw petrol over him and set him alight as he slept rough on the street.

The victim, Marcello Cimino, 45, was incinerated by the flames in the horrendous attack in the city of Palermo, southern Italy.

CCTV footage shows a man, carrying a bucket filled with liquid, approach Mr Cimino as he sleeps on a mattress outside the Mission San Francesco - a soup kitchen for the homeless.

The attacker was caught on CCTV carrying a huge bucket before the attack

The man throws the contents of the bucket over Mr Cimino, who is sleeping rough

The attacker, wearing all black and a hood over his head, then throws the contents of the bucket over the homeless man.

As Mr Cimino stirs, the man backs off before pulling a lighter out of his pocket and throwing himself on the covers.

The mattress is then set alight in a huge explosion before the attacker, also on fire, runs away, leaving his victim to burn to death.

Emergency services were called to the scene but by the time they arrived Mr Cimino had died.

The victim has been named as homeless man Marcello Cimino

Giuseppe Pecoraro, centre, has been arrested in connection with the murder. He is believed to have confessed to the crime

According to Italian news website Corriere, police have arrested petrol station worker Giuseppe Pecoraro, 45, in connection with the killing.

The man is believed to have confessed to the crime.

It is claimed Pecoraro acted out of jealousy as he believed Mr Cimino was having an affair with his recently estranged wife.

Floral tributes have been left at the scene of the murder, where black burn marks can still be seen on the walls.

The man sets the covers ablaze after pouncing on the man with a lighter