Europe's highest active volcano has rumbled back to life.

Italy's Mount Etna on the Mediterranean island of Sicily has released a column of ash up to 5,000 metres (over 16,000 feet) above sea level.

Lava was also seen flowing from a new crater according to the Catania Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology.

Officials have held a crisis meeting at the nearby Catania airport but for the moment flights have not been halted.