Colorado residents had a lucky escape when a large tornado touched down as severe weather systems moved through the state.

A mobile phone was used to capture the tornado - described by forecasters as "large and extremely dangerous" - in full force.

However, there were no reports of injuries or damage apart from a flattened barn in the area of Elbert, located around 40 miles (64k) southeast of Denver.

Local resident Cathy Wilson said the tornado "got really huge" while Dawn Key, who lives five miles south of nearby Elizabeth said she saw two of them, one large and cone-shaped and the other a thin one that seemed to repeatedly touch down and pull back up.

But Elbert County sheriff's Lieutenant Michelle Mattive said she believed there was only one tornado, but due to its up-and-down movements gave the appearance of two.

It is the latest in a string of tornadoes to hit the state in a little more than a week.

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