Mt Etna in spectacular eruption

(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)

Europe's only active volcano, Mount Etna, sent streams of red hot lava into the sky on Saturday (March 16) as it continued a series of recent eruptions.

The eruption reached a height of around 2,900 metres at a new crater on the southeast face of the volcano.

As lava streamed down the side of the volcano, experts said the local population was in no danger.

Etna, which is located above the Sicilian town of Catania, often erupts but rarely causes damage.

Although the eruptions themselves do not generally put the local population at risk, the local inhabitants do have to live with the ash showers that follow the events.