This is the moment huge piles of snow fall one after the other from a building roof, pummelling a mother and her young daughter on the pavement below.

The incident was filmed in the city of Rybinsk in the western Russian region of Yaroslavl Oblast on 11th February.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office for Yaroslavl Oblast said it was investigating the matter after the woman reportedly sustained a neck injury.

According to local reports, the woman, name not disclosed, was walking along Herzen Street with her young daughter after just collecting her from nursery school.

As they were passing the building, the accumulated snow on the roof suddenly slipped and plummeted to the pavement where the two were walking.

As they were showered by large piles of thick snow, the mother reportedly protected her child with her body and sustained bruising to her neck, according to reports.

The young tot was uninjured in the incident.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement on 15th February: “The Prosecutor’s Office for Yaroslavl Oblast has organised checks based on footage of snow falling from the roof of a non-residential building on a local resident with a child.

“During checks, an assessment will be made as to whether the building owner fulfilled the legal requirements for the maintenance of buildings and structures in the winter.

“If there are grounds, the Public Prosecutor’s Office will take necessary measures.”