This is the spectacular moment a large waterspout formed next to fishing boats in the Philippines.

Footage shows the funnel-shaped weather phenomenon rotating in the water as boats fled towards the shore for safety in Pangasinan province, on July 27.

The waterspout lasted for about five minutes before it disappeared but all of the fishermen were able to reach the dock safely.

Resident Ben Saragena said: ‘It was around sunset when the weather became cloudy and windy. We saw it forming on the water so some of my neighbours were shouting at the fishermen to take their boats.'

Waterspout tornadoes are intense columns of swirling tornado clouds that form over a body of water.

They are most commonly found in subtropical areas and disappear shortly after they come into contact with land.

Scientists believe they are formed when pockets of warm air near the water surface rise suddenly.

Cooler air is then sucked into the low-pressure air, which picks up water and rises towards the clouds in a rotating motion.