A FARMER from Sticklepath has captured amazing video footage of a mini tornado known as a ‘dust devil’ whipping freshly-baled hay 200ft into the air.

Vicky Chastey, 27, caught the rare meteorological phenomenon on camera as a whirlwind of hay spiralled into the sky.

She had been baling in her field near Sticklepath, Devon when all her hard work was suddenly undone as the wind siphoned the hay up into the air.

The BBC weather centre confirmed the event as a ‘dust devil’, which can occur when temperatures rise on sunny days.

Vicky said: ‘The hay lifted at least 150-200ft into the air and carried off towards Belstone from Sticklepath. We have seen little ones before but nothing as impressive as this. I am glad I had my phone in my hand.’

A dust devil is a strong, relatively short-lived whirlwind that ranges in size from half a metre wide and a few metres tall to ten metres wide and more than a kilometre tall.

Dust devils look like tornadoes but they are usually harmless. On rare occasions, say meteorologists, they can grow large enough to pose a threat to both people and property.