This is the dramatic moment locals pounced on a wild giant crocodile that wandered into their village.

Residents spotted the 12ft long beast after it left deep woodland in Chachoengsao, eastern Thailand, and walked into the residential area.

They chased it into a swamp with marsh and thick vines where more than 20 people gathered to catch the killer reptile.

When they tried to catch the croc, it was startled and ran in the direction of the other locals who were waiting on the other side of the swamp.

They were able to hook the crocodile with a lasso but had to battle as it thrashed around in the undergrowth.

It eventually took eight men sitting on the croc to tie it down with rope before hauling it into the back of a pickup truck.

The relieved local governor, Somjit Phansuwan,said it was extraordinary to see a crocodile in the area since there was no crocodile farm around.

She said: "I believe the crocodile we have caught was a wild crocodile and I know that we should not interfere with its natural way of life.

"But having an aggressive reptile in the area is not safe for the locals so we had to catch it."

The crocodile is believed to have come from dense woodland where they live in the wild in Thailand.

Officials sent the croc to the local fishery office before it will be released back the wild away from the village.