A farmer who forgot to put the fuel cap back on his car was shocked after finding a 7ft-long slithering into the tank.

Sangwan Ratchawong, 50, drove to his farm so he could water his sugar cane crops in Uttaradit province, Thailand, on March 30.

The farmer parked his Nissan pickup truck next to bushes on a dirt road but when he returned he spotted the snake trying to squeeze its way through the open fuel outlet.

Using a stick, he tried to pull the snake out but instead of coming out the startled reptile quickly pushed its way inside the engine of the car.

When the snake had disappeared inside the car, Sangwan called the animal rescuers for help who arrived at the farm and began luring it out.

The fuel filler hole was too narrow so the volunteers could only use their hands to reach inside and grab the snake while wearing rubber gloves.

They removed the hatch to widen the hole a bit before one of the brave volunteers held the snake by the head and began pulling out.

After almost an hour, the snake was removed from the car before the relieved farmer thanked the team for helping him out.

Sangwan said: ‘This snake gave the rescuers a difficult job. I think it was looking for a safe spot to make a nest and found my car a comfortable space.’

The rescue team drove away with the snake secured inside a sack to release it back into the wild away from villages and farms.