Joy turns to panic as truck ploughs through Nice crowds

A crowd of children and happy families were filmed smiling on camera when suddenly a white truck looms from the distance and hurtles towards them.

A tourist in Nice filmed the festivities during the country's Bastille Day celebrations, unaware that many of the people in frame would soon be victims of a deadly terror attack.

As the camera pans away from the ocean and back to the street at the Promenade des Anglais, the truck driven by 31-year-old Mohamed Bouhlel is seen front on as it rapidly approaches the crowd.

One man lifts his gaze from just long enough lock eyes with the person recording as the truck zig-zags towards them.

Screams of panic echo as witnesses stare down at the carnage of the terrorist attack which killed 84 and injured at least 200.

The horrific footage was uploaded to LiveLeak this morning by an unknown user.

It is not known if the person recording was among the victims.