A woman was rushed to hospital covered in blood after being bitten on the bottom by a 10ft long python.

Ae Loisong, 22, went to the bathroom on Sunday afternoon at around 3pm when the reptile reared up through the u-bend. The beast plunged its fangs into Ae's bare backside - sending howls of pain through the block of flats in Chachoengsao, Thailand.

The single factory worker, who lives alone, wrestled with the creature and flung it at a wall before it slithered away back through the toilet.

Concerned neighbours who heard Ae's screams of pain rushed to help and she was taken to hospital where doctors put a dozen stitches in her bottom.

She was sedated due to the pain and shock and has been staying in hospital since in the incident. She is stable and her injuries are not serious.

Meanwhile, the snake is still on the loose and residents have been warned to take care when they visit their toilets.

Friend Noi Nutthawadee, 30, who lives next door, said: ''I was sleeping then I heard somebody scream very loudly. I thought a couple were fighting to I listened more. Then somebody said 'help me, a snake bit me.' I opened the door and went to look. There was a snake in there.''

Male neighbour Withayakorn Pornsingh, 43, who drove Ae to hospital said she told him the snake was about 10ft long.

He said: ''I don't remember how many stitches she had, but it was a lot. She lives opposite me.The snake was as thick as her arm. She said she grabbed the snake's neck to pull it out. She held it up and the snake was the whole length of her arm, but even bigger.''