A dust devil tornado whipped through a petrol station - sending staff running for cover.

Footage shows the weather phenomenon picking up white dust as it passed through with workers hiding behind walls in Nong Bua Lamphu province, Thailand, on March 4.

The gust created a dust storm effect, which covered the area and toppled over some of the chairs in the establishment.

Worker Kanokwan Yaingam said the weather was windy the whole day, and there was dust everywhere because of it.

Dust devil tornadoes are types of whirlwinds 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 and rise and the cycle continues, picking up dust and debris and making the spiral visible.

They are less dangerous than supercell tornadoes, which can cause severe damage.