A 10ft-long python had to be rescued after eating a pet cat then getting stuck in a spiked fence.

The stodged serpent was seen struggling in the small gap between the metal bars in Samut Prakan, central Thailand on October 25.

Residents called the animal rescue service for help who discovered its bulging stomach was preventing it from slithering away. They tried to pull out the snake but failed because it was too big, with the adult cat still lodged in its body.

Staff then held the snake's head using a catching rod and tail before cutting portions of the metal fence to widen the gap.

The rescue operation lasted for almost an hour because they were being careful not to hurt the reptile while using a sharp cutting tool on the fence.

One rescuer said: "We needed to be careful when cutting the metal poles because the sharp machine could have hurt the python.

"It ate the owner's pet cat and tried to get away, but it was not aware of how big its belly was.''

The snake was placed in a sack before the rescuers carried it to their truck to release into the wild.