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© Niccolò Ubalducci
A type of tornado known as a waterspout surprised bathers on a famous nudist beach near the Catalan city of Tarragona on Sunday when it swirled close to the shore in a spectacular vortex of wind and water.

Visitors to El Torn de l'Hospitalet de l'Infant nudist beach and the surrounding area were stunned to see the rotating column of air connecting the sea and low-hanging storm clouds just metres offshore.

Waterspouts are rare in Spain and form only when especially strong winds are blowing.

Sunday's waterspout came before storm that hit most of the Catalonia region in the afternoon and evening, resulting in 288 calls to emergency services by people affected by torrential downpours.

A number of people photographed the tornado on their mobile phones and posted images and videos to social media.