Incredible scenes show Europe's tallest active volcano erupting on Thursday (4 July).

The pictures of Mount Etna were captured in Sicily by photographer and guide Emilio Messina.

He says: "This eruption started very slowly several days ago inside one of the four craters of the Etna volcano."

"Yesterday, however, all the seismic and volcanic tremor signals indicated a significant rise of magma and I went to a safe altitude to document this imposing eruption."

"It really lasted several hours, with fallout of volcanic ash on the city of Catania below which had to close the airport and cancel all flights."

"The eruption is now over after several hours, but the inconvenience for the villages and cities around the volcano is notable because the streets and houses are filled with volcanic ash at least two centimetres high."

Mount Etna is the tallest peak in Italy south of the Alps with an official height of 3,357.

"Volcanologists probably say that now the summit of Etna is even higher. Official measurements are awaited, " adds Emilio."