This is the moment a little boy who was looking after his younger sister discovers a malfunctioning light turning into a lava lamp after catching fire and dropping burning molten plastic onto the floor.

The two siblings were in the living room when the light acted up, and he warned her to steer clear of it. After turning off the light, he grabbed the telephone to call for help.

He appears to have been making a video call, and shortly afterwards, they fled the apartment as the burning liquid continued to drip in ever-increasing amounts onto the floor.

The video was shot in an apartment in Guizhou, China, on October 7.

It was later revealed that the boy had been talking to his mother on the phone, who instructed him to leave. The mother then called emergency services and alerted the building's caretaker.

The mum said: 'I was very proud of my son, and the way he protected his sister.'