BEIJING (AFP) - A man attacked children at an eastern China school with a hammer before setting himself on fire, in the latest in a series of apparent copy-cat attacks, state media said Friday.

The attack in Shandong province left five pre-school children injured but all were in a stable condition in hospital, Xinhua news agency said.

The man then poured petrol over himself and ignited it while holding two children in his arms.

Teachers pulled the children to safety and the man died at the scene, the report said.

The incident follows three knife attacks at schools by mentally disturbed adults, which killed eight children and left nearly 50 injured.