TWO man have been charged after an incident which left a homeless man fighting for his life after being set on fire as he slept in a bus shelter.

Matthew Kitchen suffered severe burns to his chest and face when the occupants of a car threw a firework at him as he lay snoozing on a bus stop bench in Bury Road, Radcliffe, during the early hours of Sunday. His clothing burst into flames as horrified residents called for help.

The 41-year-old, who has no fixed address, is on a life support machine at Wythenshawe Hospital where his condition is described as critical but stable.

Two men have now been charged with Section 18 assault and will appear at Bury Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

They have been named as 18-year-old Benjamin Mortenson, of Rupert Street, Radcliffe and 18-year-old David Smolinski of Craven Street, Bury.