Dozens of villagers dragged a 16ft-long python out from a drain in Thailand.

The snake was spotted slithering across the road by one of the residents in Phattalung province in southern Thailand on January 7.

The woman climbed down from her car and approached the large reptile to record a video. However, the car’s headlights attracted dozens of villagers, who crowded over to take a glimpse at the massive animal.

The startled snake tried escaping through the drain, but its thick body was stuck in the hole. The villagers used ropes and pieces of bamboo to pry the python loose, but it was still lodged in the drain's opening.

As a last resort, the villagers held onto the snake's body and tried to drag it out. After a few moments, the python was successfully pulled out from the hole.

They placed the snake into a fertilizer bag before freeing it to the wild.

Onlooker Nok Panthong said: ‘I’m glad we managed to pull it out and free it somewhere far away from our neighbourhood. If it stayed here, it’d be eating the chickens and piglets.’