A randy Buddhist monk was caught breaking religious rules after being found with a half-naked woman in Thailand.

Phra Samuprasartporn Mahapanyo, 65, was confronted by angry followers who allegedly saw an 'attractive woman in her 30s' visit his two-storey home in Samut Prakan province on February 9.

When the woman did not reappear after nightfall, they believed the monk to be breaking one of the cardinal rules of the monkhood - not to touch women.

A furious mob - angry that they had been making donations to him - stormed his home but the monk refused the let them in. Local police intervened and asked him to let them inside so he could prove that the woman had already left.

However, a topless woman clutching a bunch of clothes on her chest was found hiding under the stairs behind the monk's robes.

Samrongtai police station chief Chakkapomg Nuchpadung said: 'The has decided to abort his temple and disrobe himself following the incident. We are now investigating whether the pair had committed other crimes.

'They were allegedly first seen spending the night together in the monk's hometown. They were seen together on a CCTV. We are verifying these reports.'

Upon entering his home, one of the locals noticed a hair tie lying on his bed but the defiant monk said he was using it to relieve migraine and even demonstrated how he wore it on his shaven head.

The locals grew even more suspicious ad searched further until they found a woman's brassiere by the stairs which led to her hiding spot.

Hundreds of angry locals waited outside the temple compound with some reportedly having tried to attack the pair so police asked for reinforcements and more officers arrived.

The monk and the woman were safely taken out of the temple and into the police station for questioning while officers investigated if the two had violated any laws.

Buddhism is the official religion being practised by more than 95 per cent of the population in Thailand as well as neighbouring countries such as Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.