Terrified locals watched as a mini tornado formed above a rice field.

Footage shows the weather phenomenon stretching down from the clouds in Pampanga, the Philippines on July 31 morning.

Bernard Manlupig said he was scared that the tornado could grow into something worse and wreck their homes.

He said: ''Thank God it did not land on the field or else it could have damaged our homes."

Bernard added that the tornado was gone after a few minutes which brought dark clouds and strong winds for most of the day.

Tornadoes are violent rotating columns of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. They can destroy large buildings, uproot trees, and hurl vehicles on their path.