One brave mountaineer filmed molten lava exploding and oozing from a volcano on the French-controlled island of La Réunion, ignoring warnings from local authorities to avoid the area.

Lava can be seen spitting from the blackened craters of the Piton de la Fournaise as it erupted last Monday morning (February 18) on the French overseas department of Reunion in the Indian ocean.

The local authorities had forbidden anyone from going near the volcano as the area is considered very dangerous. The hiker defied the warning, justifying his trip claiming that "I'm very experienced and know the area very well."

While the Piton de la Fournaise is 2,632 metres high, the latest eruption was taking place at an altitude of approximately 1,800 metres creating mile-long lava flows.

This is the stunning moment a French volcano erupted creating incredible mile-long lava flows.

Mountaineer Benoit Lincy ignored warnings to brave the scorching temperatures on the Piton de la Fournaise as it erupted on the French overseas department of Reunion last Monday (18/02) morning.

Footage shows the glowing red molten lave spewing from the depths of the black craters before oozing down the steep slopes on the island in the Indian Ocean.

The authorities had forbidden anyone from going near the volcano as the area is considered very dangerous.

But fearless hiker Benoit, an experienced French mountain guide hailing from Brittany, scaled the volcano to capture the close-up footage.

He said: ''The authorities had banned access to the mountain while the volcano was erupting, but I'm very experienced and know the area very well.

''I left my home town and I am currently a mountain guide on this beautiful island. I have been fascinated by volcanoes since I was young and I try to transmit it by discovering the Piton de la Fournaise massif. '

The volcano became active last Monday morning at 9.48am before resuming its slumber at around 10pm the same day, but by 5pm on Tuesday (19/02) it was waking up again with an impressive lava flow measuring some 1,600 metres (1 mile).

While the Piton de la Fournaise is 2,632 metres (8,635 feet) high, the latest eruption was taking place at an altitude of approximately 1,800 metres (5,905 feet).