A thrilled family found a pearl inside a sea snail while eating their dinner in Thailand.

Farmer Sumran Tonglua, 36, bought five kilograms of fresh seafood for her birthday celebration at home in Udon Thani province on August 26.

The seafood lover treated her family to a barbecue dinner, feasting on snails and meat.

However, when Sumran took a bite of a grilled Babylon snail, she bit into a tiny hard object that she spat out and turned out to be a shiny pearl.

She said: ‘I went back home and told my friends and family about the pearl. They all told me that the pearl could be worth a lot of money.'

The lucky birthday celebrant hoped that what she found was an extremely expensive type of Melo pearl. Local jewellers have confirmed it is a pearl but gemologists have yet to official verify the object with a certificate.

She said: ‘They suggested I have the pearl checked in local gold shops, but I need an expert opinion. I will bring the pearl to a national gemological research institute.'

The farmer said she would use the money earned from the pearl to help her family live a decent life.

Sumran said: ‘I have always been unfortunate. My father recently chopped off three fingers while cutting a coconut. The Melo pearl felt like winning a lottery. Those who are interested can contact me and let me know what their offer is.'

‘If I'm happy with the price, I'll sell it. If not, I will keep it and wear it because it is my most valuable gift.'

Meat and seafood merchant Saifon Chaiaonsa, 34, where the snail with pearl was bought, said she was happy for her customer.

She said: ‘It's only been a year since I started selling. I'm happy for my customer. She's the first to discover a Melo pearl from my shop.'

If proven genuine, Sumran could earn millions of baht from the pearl's sale depending on its quality. Melo pearls range from orange to tan to brown – with orange being the most expensive shade. They are usually found in the South China Sea and the Andaman Sea off the coast of Myanmar and are produced by predatory sea snails called Volutidae.