This is the moment a colony of sea lions charged at screaming tourists - sending them fleeing in terror.

The video, captured by a beachgoer, shows the pair of male sea lions jump out of the water and charge a crowd of tourists.

A warning message then blared over loadspeakers saying: “Please give that large, male sea lion plenty of room.

“They have bitten people, and they are protected animals.”

Sea lions regularly sunbathe on the rocks at La Jolla Cove, in San Diego, California, USA, and have been known to chase human visitors away.

Signs are posted warning beachgoers to keep away from the wild animals.

The video was filmed on July 25.