A giant monitor lizard was caught hiding under a family's sink in Thailand.

The aggressive wild reptile entered from the back door and was only discovered when the residents were cleaning their lunch in Phuket province, Thailand on June 27.

At first, it was thought to be a rat but it turned out to be a 6ft-long creature tucked in the dark space under the sink.

Footage shows animal rescuers using a long catching pole to reach and drag the monitor lizard.

One of the rescuers Apapat Lanhad said: ‘No one knew it was under there until it hit the pan. They thought it was a big rat.'

The creature was pinned down on the neck by one rescuer while the other worked on tying its legs

Apapat added: ‘They could be big but moves really fast. So we have to be precise in our moves or we would have to chase it around the house.'

The monitor lizard was later released back into its habitat. No one was hurt or damaged on the property.

Asian water monitor lizards normally live in canals, swamps, sewers and ponds in cities in Thailand. They feed on fish, snakes, frogs and scraps of food left by humans.

The reptiles are aggressive when threatened ,and have a mildly venomous bite which sometimes carries harmful bacteria. The Godzilla-like reptiles are also a protected species in the country so their population thrives.