Children were traumatised after a prank involving a scary mask left them distressed.

The incident occurred in their apartment in Longyan, Fujian, China, on April 28.

CCTV footage filmed inside the lift shows two young girls entering and pressing the button to go up. Before the doors can close, a woman wearing a terrifying white mask appears in front of them and threatens them.

As the lift doors close, someone on the other side presses the button to open them again. The elder girl presses the button for the doors to close, and they begin to do so before opening again at the last second.

This happens a few more times before the girls manage to close the doors, and the lift begins its ascent.

However, upon reaching the second floor, the lift doors open again, and the masked woman appears, scaring the girls one last time before running off.

This continues on several floors before the elevator finally reaches the 32nd floor, with the girls reduced to tears, clearly terrified. Their father was waiting for them at the top.

He later told local media that his daughters were left traumatised by the incident and are now receiving therapy.

Local authorities investigated the incident, and the woman and her parents apologised to the family, saying that it was just a prank.

The girls' family has not pursued the matter further, accepting the apology as sincere.