This is the terrifying moment a hungry elephant raided passing cars to steal food.

Footage shows the jumbo stopping traffic in Prachuap Khiri Khan province to inspect them for snacks on November 8.

Sukanya Muangpin, who was carrying durian fruits and bananas in the back of her pickup truck, said she was scared when they were approached at the ''elephant checkpoint''.

She said: "I was so scared. I thought he would attack us because we had durians kept in the back. Luckily we escaped the elephant at the right time."

Before Sukanya's car, the elephant stopped two other vehicles in front which immediately sped away after the jumbo left them.

When the elephant was about to check the back of her car, her friend who was driving slammed the gas to escape the hungry wild animal.

An estimated 2,000 elephants are living in the wild in Thailand and a similar number in captivity. In the wild, they roam through the deep jungle and in the country's protected national parks.

However, there is a conflict when they come in contact with humans who also use the area for farming and gathering food.

Elephants are a protected animal in Thailand and killing them carries a maximum prison term of up to three years and a fine of 1,000 baht (25GBP).