A dust devil tornado tore through a park, sparking panic among families.

Footage shows the 20ft tall whirlwind forming beside a walkway in Beijing, China.

The weather phenomenon grew bigger as it approached campers before a ten was sent flying into the air.

The gusts also swept away debris such as plastic bags and a jacket while worried locals watched on April 5.

Despite the chaos, no one was injured or damaged, and the tornado dissipated in less than a minute.

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.