Badminton players were shocked after finding a 15ft long python hiding in the roof above a toilet.

One of the team went to the loo and noticed the snake coiled in the metal rafters of bathroom at the outdoor court in Sukhothai, northern Thailand.

They players stayed well back from the changing room toilets and contacted the rescue volunteers to come and catch the deadly snake.

Footage from Wednesday (13/11) night shows how a snake handler climbed up the wall and used a metal rod to drag the python from the ceiling.

The rescue worker who caught the reptile said that it was difficult to bring it down because of its size and strength.

Tor Rakham said: "Catching this snake was hard. I had to climb up the wall and then tie the snake with the catching rod. It was big, heavy and very strong. I think it was just trying to stay dry in the roof but it could have been a danger to people it it was allowed to stay there.''

The snake was put in a sack and was released back to the wild.