A city councillor is in hospital after being doused in five gallons of petrol and set alight.

Lee Vogler, a councilman in Danville City, Virginia, suffered serious burns after he was attacked by a man at around 11.30am on Wednesday.

The man forced his way into the offices of Showcase Magazine, where he worked, and drenched Mr Vogler in gasoline.

While trying to run away, Mr Vogler was set on fire by the attacker, according to horrified onlookers and law enforcement.