A hungry 12ft long python was hauled from a terrified family's house after it slithered inside looking for food.

The large serpent emerged in the property in Chonburi province, Thailand in the middle of the night, shocking homeowner Supak Yamama and his family on November 20.

Fearing for their safety, they locked up the doors and called animal rescuers to take the scaly creature away.

Four officers were sent with equipment to the house in Sattahip district. They found the python draped atop the wooden grilles of the laundry area.

It took them around 20 minutes to catch the snake, which is believed to have wandered into the area while hunting.

The python will be released into a forested area away from the neighbourhood.

The reticulated python is found throughout Southeast Asia, where they live in forests, swamps, canals and even in cities, causing them to come into conflict with humans. The species is one of the world's largest snakes and can eat humans, cats, dogs, birds, rats and other snakes.