A large python was caught strangling a chicken on a farm.

The 10ft-long reptile raided a coop and snatched one of the chickens to eat as dinner in Phatthalung province, Thailand on March 1.

It was clutching the bird in its mouth while the other frantic chickens made noise, waking up the owner of the farm.

The snake could not find a way out of the property until the farmer finally saw it and called the animal rescuers for help.

Farmer Somsak Pomnoon, 32, said: 'I was resting for the night when I heard the chickens are going wild. I knew something was wrong so I went to have a look until I saw the snake.'

When the officers arrived, they found the snake tightly wrapped around its dinner before swallowing it a few moments later.

However, the reptile was caught on a chicken net even before it could swallow the bird whole so the rescuers took it as a chance to secure the snake.

The rescue team distracted it by poking its body with a stick, causing it to spit out the bird in confusion. Soon after, the snake was caught and taken by the rescuers to be released in the wild.