Schoolboys used a zip line to cross a steep river after deadly flash floods blocked the roads around their homes.

The youngsters were cut off by heavy rain which caused muddy torrents to swamp thousands of homes in Nakhon Si Tammarat, southern Thailand, last week.

They were blocked in by landslides and damage to roads leading to their local school.

However, when Monday morning arrived the determined youngsters found a way to reach their classroom on time - by zip-lining across the steep riverbanks.

Onlooker Manop Kijwichit, who walked with the children to help them reach school safely, said: ''When the school opened, but the roads were blocked, we were worried the children would have difficulty going to school. Thankfully we found the solution.''

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha this week visited the region in southern Thailand after 24 people were killed by the flash floods.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said 19 of the victims were in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, two in Songkhla and one in Surat Thani.

Tens of thousands of families were evacuated after their homes were damaged by the water.