A man who entered a Norfolk superstore after walking along the street on fire has been moved to a specialist burns unit in a critical condition, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called to reports of a man in distress outside the Tesco superstore, at Kilverstone, near Thetford, at about 9.45pm on Thursday, where he was suffering from serious injuries.

On arrival, police officers found a man, in his twenties with severe burns, close to the building, off Norwich Road. Yesterday the man, who is local to Thetford, was taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford where his condition was described as critical. He was previously being treated at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.

Eyewitnesses said the man had entered the store having walked from Joe Blunt's Lane and crossed Norwich Road.

Fire crews were initially called to the Croxton Road end of Joe Blunt's Lane, near Thetford Academy. They then moved to close off the other end of the lane which adjoins Norwich Road, before discovering the victim had made his way towards Tesco.

It is believed he was not on fire when he entered the store.

One witness, who did not want to be named, said she had been alerted to the incident at around 10pm. 'There was a lot going on and the air ambulance was there with three fire engines and road ambulances.

'The shop was still open and the man was outside the shop with the paramedics, near the ATMs, and they were looking after him.

'I couldn't see him properly but he was covered in bandages. He was in the air ambulance for ages but then they took him by road,' she said.

The air ambulance was called to the scene, but the man was taken by land ambulance to West Suffolk Hospital.

A spokesman confirmed that no other people are believed to be involved in the incident.

Norfolk Constabulary would like to hear from anyone who may have seen what happened or witnessed a distressed man in the area before the incident.

Witnesses are asked to contact Norfolk Constabulary on 101.