A deadly 6ft-long cobra sparked panic after it was found hiding under a huge water jar to shelter during a cold spell in Thailand.

The house owner was about to water his plants using the collected water inside the huge ceramic container in Nakhon Si Thammart province when the reptile sprung up from the bottom on January 19.

He ran back inside the house shocked and terrified before calling the animal rescuers for help.

Snake wranglers rushed to the backyard and searched for the reptile that had tucked deeper under the jar to hide.

They sprayed mosquito repellant to lure it out but the cobra would not budge.

Some of the villagers watching from a safe distance could be heard shouting as they feared the ferocious snake could bite one of the rescuers.

In the end, the rescue team decided to lift the heavy clay jar sideways which forced the snake out.

The rescuers stood on top one of the huge jars to be safe from the venomous snake and pinned it down using a long pole.

They carried it out of the property before it was secured inside a sack so they can take it with them for release.

One of the rescuers said the snake was looking for a warm place to stay as temperatures outside plunged to single digits during Thailand's cool winter.

He said: 'The weather is cold and the snake found a nice play to curl up inside.'

The relieved house owner thanked the team before they drove away. He said he was glad no one was hurt in the incident.

He said: 'I didn't know that there was a snake hiding in my backyard. We could have been bitten if I didn't see it right away.'