A Godzilla-like monitor lizard was caught after it was found sleeping in a family's car engine in Thailand.

The beast was discovered by homeowner Jirapas Phutum, 31, crawling into his house in the Sattahip district of Chonburi province on the evening of November 30.

It ran across the garage and slipped into the black-gray Honda Jazz parked inside.

Terrified that the creature would attack him, Jirapas called wildlife handler volunteers from the Sattahip Rescue Foundation to remove the animal from his property.

A snake srangle later arrived to the shocked resident standing watch next to his vehicle making sure the lizard did not escape.

When they opened the car's bonnet, they found the 5ft long reptile draped comfortably over the engine.

The officer took a snare pole and tried to catch the wild animal, but the rope snapped loose, allowing it to flee.

It scurried along the perimeter of Jirapas's house before darting outside to terrorise the neighbours, who were heard screaming when they encountered the scaly visitor.

The elusive monitor lizard was finally caught when it was cornered in the neighbour's garage. In a last ditch attempt at escape, it tried to bite the volunteer, but finally gave up when he grabbed it by its neck. It was then sealed inside a sack to be released into its natural habitat.

Jirapas said: 'I found the lizard entering the gate and disappearing into the car, but I didn't dare approach it because I was scared. I called the rescuers to come and pick it up.

'It might be a sign of good fortune, so I'm entering the lottery using my car's license plate.'

Asian water monitor lizards normally live in canals, swamps, sewers and ponds in cities in Thailand. They feed on fish, snakes, frogs and scraps of food left by humans.

The reptiles are aggressive when threatened and have a mildly venomous bite which sometimes carries harmful bacteria. The Godzilla-like reptiles are also a protected species in the country so their population thrives.