This is the dramatic moment a tree fell onto a Buddhist shrine at a temple in Thailand.

CCTV footage shows the century-old banyan toppling onto a pavilion at the Wat Ban Mai temple in Lampang province, on September 11.

It flattened the structure and also snagged on nearby power cables.

Authorities said no one was hurt as there were no worshippers at the time.

Thotsaphon Jakboonma, chief of Wang Nuea district, said: 'The tree was likely more than 100 years old and was unable to bear the weight of its branches. Coupled with recent rainfall that soaked the soil through, the tree gradually collapsed, crushing the entire Chao Pho Phraya Wang Shrine built in 1983.

'Fortunately, the incident occurred when no one was around. Otherwise, it could have been a tragedy.'

Villagers and municipality officials have set a meeting to discuss plans to rebuild the shrine.