Watch hellish moment huge inferno erupts at wedding reception sending guests running for their lives from wall of fire

THIS is the horror moment wedding guests are sent running for their lives as huge flames engulf a wedding venue.

Five people had to be hospitalised after the raging inferno erupted during the nuptials in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

In the horror footage, the panicked guests and staff can be heard screaming as they try to escape from the blaze that is rapidly spreading through the venue.

The dream wedding quickly turned into a nightmare when the fire broke out in the huge marquee at the Hacienda Los Arcángeles - an exclusive venue popular for lavish celebrations.

The flames unfurled across the tables and fake foliage, burning up several feet into the air.

The fire tore through the artificial vegetation on the ceiling, causing pieces of it to rain down on the guests' heads and forcing them to flee quickly.

The rescuers were dispatched to the lavish wedding and successfully evacuated 850 people, including the groom and the bride.

Five people, including a DJ, had to be tended to for burns while 25 guests were treated for smoke inhalation - with only minor injuries reported.

Firefighters battled for two hours to put out the inferno, local authorities reported.

But local media added that the fire team was still extinguishing the smouldering debris until the next morning.

A short circuit might have sparked the sudden fire, according to reports.

The town mayor, Mauricio Trejo, has praised the rescue team's quick response which saved the lives of everyone.

He said: “I congratulate both fire departments, the Civil Protection, and the Municipal Police for successfully carrying out the evacuation to save lives.”

The venue's owner has stated that restoration efforts are already in progress and that there was no significant damage sustained.

Previously, a wedding in Iraq had a tragic ending when the fireworks sparked an inferno that killed 98 people and injured 150.

The newlyweds were also feared to have perished in the inferno, but it has since emerged that they survived after reportedly escaping through a kitchen door.

They suffered minor burns and lost a number of close relatives, including the groom's mother.