This is the moment a huge Christmas tree burns in a shopping centre in Peru and sends thick black smoke into the air in front of stunned shoppers.

The unfestive scene was filmed at the Jockey Plaza shopping centre in the district of Santiago de Surco in the Peruvian capital Lima on 30th November.

According to the news site Infobae, the burning Christmas tree sent black smoke high into the sky and many local residents thought the shopping centre was on fire instead of just the Christmas tree.

Fireteams were sent to the scene and the blaze was quickly contained with no reported injuries or damage to shops.

A spokesperson for Jockey Plaza said the blaze started at around 3pm and was probably caused by an electrical short circuit.

However, fire department spokesperson Mario Casarretto said it is more likely that the blaze was started by a discarded cigarette butt, adding: “I do not think it could have been a short circuit because there are technical protocols to follow for erecting trees of that size.

“For Jockey Plaza to assemble this type of tree, they must have used strong supports and reinforced cables, I do not think a situation like this would have escaped them.”

He added that Christmas trees are highly flammable and advised families to be careful with electrical connections at home and to remove electrical decorations such as fairy lights if they overheat.

The investigation into the fire is ongoing.

The shopping centre added that business was not interrupted by the incident.