A 13ft-long python was rescued from a flooded drain during a thunderstorm in Thailand.

The large serpent was spotted poking its scaly head between the gaps of the steel drain cover in Chonburi province on July 25.

However, its chubby body could not fit through and ended up stuck while the water rose in the drain.

Passing motorcycle riders called the animal rescuers, who rushed to the area to save the snake.

Rescue volunteer Kung said: ‘This snake might have been forced out of its nest when the rainwater flooded the drain. It was lucky that there were riders who pulled over next to the drain, or it would have drowned from the flood.'

The rescue volunteers pried the heavy drain cover open using a steel bar which took five men - delivery riders and rescuers - before it was finally opened after almost half an hour.

Before they pulled the cover out, however, a team member had secured the snake's neck first to prevent it from slithering away once freed.

The volunteers placed the snake in a sack and freed it back to the wild.

The reticulated python is found throughout Southeast Asia. They are common in Thailand where they live in forests, swamp, canals and even in cities, where they come into conflict with humans.

They can kills humans and regularly eat cats, dogs, birds, rats and other snakes.