An extraordinary image has captured the moment a lightning bolt hit an erupting volcano.

Photographer Martin Reitze took the photographic as volcanic ash escaped from the Ebeko volcano in Russia while the lightning lit up an accompanying ash cloud.

The 55-year-old from Munich, Germany was standing around a kilometre away from the northern crater of the volcano when it erupted.

"The strong lightning which shows in the image is a very rare exception, as it was much stronger than usual," he said.

"It was strong enough to illuminate the whole sky with its bluish lighting. It caused the moving ash cloud to freeze."

Lighting strikes volcano during eruption: In pictures Show all 7 1 /7 Lighting strikes volcano during eruption: In pictures Lighting strikes volcano during eruption: In pictures Lighting strikes the Ebeko volcano in Russia as it erupts Martin Reitze / SWNS Lighting strikes volcano during eruption: In pictures Photographer Martin Reitze captured the extraordinary event as he was out to take pictures of the northern crater of the Ebeko volcano Martin Reitze / SWNS Lighting strikes volcano during eruption: In pictures The volcano expert was standing around a kilometre away from the northern crater when it erupted Martin Reitze / SWNS Lighting strikes volcano during eruption: In pictures Mr Reitze said he spent around seven hours waiting for an eruption to happen and felt "extremely lucky" that he managed to get the shot Martin Reitze / SWNS Lighting strikes volcano during eruption: In pictures The 55-year-old from Munich, Germany said he previously captured thousands of pictures of volcanic eruptions but "never managed to get one like this." Martin Reitze / SWNS Lighting strikes volcano during eruption: In pictures He said: "It shows that there are many wonders on this planet and how powerful nature really is. Martin Reitze / SWNS Lighting strikes volcano during eruption: In pictures Photographer Martin Reitze at the Ebeko volcano in Russia Martin Reitze / SWNS

Mr Reitze said he spent around seven hours waiting for an eruption to happen and felt "extremely lucky" that he managed to get the shot.

He said: "I was extraordinarily lucky.

"Even when you are a avid volcano observer it can take a decade to witness such a lightning event.

"It is an unusually strong and rare volcanic lightning bolt generated by the eruption of the volcano.

"It was a scary moment, unexpectedly the whole landscape was bright and when the lightning struck, it irritated my eyes."

Mr Reitze said he previously captured thousands of pictures of volcanic eruptions but "never managed to get one like this."

He said: "It shows that there are many wonders on this planet and how powerful nature really is.

"This image is a result of being patient for over a year. I had to frequently visit volcanoes worldwide in often extremely remote places to finally witness something like this."