A snake-like dust devil tornado greeted mesmerised tourists as they visited church ruins in the Philippines.

The twister formed on the dirt field as the group appreciated the historic landmark in Banza, Butuan city on September 13.

It towered up to 25ft over the area's banyan trees as guests and guides stopped by to watch.

Footage shows the weather phenomenon dancing around the garden until it disappears a minute later.

Tourist Ferlinda Tiempo said: ‘It was my first time to witness this mini tornado. It was gone quickly, so we were not scared.'

Dust devils are a type of whirlwind tornado that form when the sun heats a patch of land and the air above becomes warmer and rises quickly.

Cooler air then moves into the low-pressure gap left by the rising warm air. The new drafts of cooler air also heat up, rise and the cycle continues, picking up dust and debris making the spiral visible.