This is the amusing moment pupils played in a swirling vortex of leaves on a school field.

Teachers and schoolchildren witnessed the harmless dust devil tornado forming in the open, causing dried leaves to hover in the air in Kalasin, Thailand, on February 28.

Footage shows dozens of boys running toward the tornado, jumping into the whirlwind of leaves, and trying to catch them mid-air while laughing.

They can be seen rotating around the vortex, following its movement, visibly mesmerised by the close encounter, which was not strong enough to cause any damage.

A teacher said: 'We knew how harmless the dust devil was, so we let the kids enjoy it. We watched over them the entire time to ensure they were safe.

'It was actually heartwarming to see children being themselves—having fun and enjoying their childhood. It brings us comfort as teachers.'

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 not as dangerous as supercell tornadoes, which can cause severe damage.