A car reversed into spectators and dancers who were performing at a street parade during a festival in the Philippines.

The silver van was parked in front of a building while the driver and his family were watching the show for Makatapak Festival in Pampanga province on November 15.

The owner allegedly forgot to pull the handbrake causing it to roll backwards on the ramp and into dozens of people.

Footage shows the vehicle smashing into the crowd of festival-goers who were fixated on enjoying the performance and then the dancers who were on the edge of the street.

Resident Marie Lingat who was recording the dancers from her balcony when it happened said: 'Everyone was so scared. We did not know what was happening at first.'

Some of those hit went under the car and were quickly pulled out by their companions.

A woman fell onto the ground as onlookers were rescuing her.

The car only stopped when it was wedged through a gutter before the owner was seen rushing into the driver's seat.

He drove it back to its parking spot with police, who reported seven people sustained minor injuries.

Bacolor Police Chief Mark Anjo Ubaub said: 'The driver was watching the show. He released the handbrake of the manual transmission car when he thought it was in first gear, but the vehicle slid.'

Those injured were given first aid treatment, and police questioned the driver.

The Makatapak Festival symbolises how residents walked barefoot through hot lahar to escape danger during Mount Pinatubo's eruption in 1991. The festival features a reenactment of the event, street dances, cultural performances, and a religious procession of the image of the Our Lady of Lourdes.