A python attacked by ants when it was stuck in a chicken coop's net was rescued in Thailand.

The hapless serpent failed to slither inside a farm to attack the birds when its body was tangled in the safety netting in Nakhon Si Thammarat province on October 14.

When the property's owner went to feed the hens, he noticed nervous clucking near the cages and saw the creature struggling to wriggle itself free and called the rescuers for help.

Footage shows the weary snake tightly wrapped around the net while rescuers use a pocket knife to cut the mesh off.

Farm owner Kornwit said: ‘I heard the chickens screaming, so I went to check on them. I knew something was not right. Then I saw the snake was intertwined with the net.'

Aside from being stuck on the net, the snake also had several ant bites on its body but could not brush the insects off because it was stuck.

Rescue volunteer Suthep Manop cut portions of the net to free the snake and also removed the ants attacking it. He put the creature in a sack for release into the wild later.

Volunteer Suthep said: ‘It tried to fit in the small space in the net, but it was stuck. Now it is safe and returned to nature.'