A woman has died after being engulfed in flames on a busy street outside a school.

Fire crews rushed to help the woman who was burning to death near Christ's School in Richmond, South West London, but they could not save her.

Reports suggest she may have set herself alight, and police have been investigating the incident. A staff member said the death is not connected to the school.

Witness Jim Corbett, 64, told the Sun: 'I saw around four drivers stop and try to help the woman.

'A van driver who covered her with blankets was a real hero but he seemed to realise there was little he could do to save her.'

Another local added: 'Children would have seen the flames from classroom windows but thankfully could not see what was burning.'

The road outside the school was closed off and buses were diverted as police and forensic officers began work in the area.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'Police were called at approximately 1.15pm to reports of a woman on fire in the street in Queen's Road, Richmond.

'Officers, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade attended the scene.

'The woman was pronounced dead at the scene at 1.41pm. Enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing - at this early stage the death is being treated as unexplained.'

Some 21 firefighters in four fire engines from three local stations were called to the scene on Monday afternoon.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: 'Sadly one woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.'