A waitress was terrified when a massive python dropped from the ceiling and chased after her.

Fern, 28, was working in the shop selling milk tea and coffee when the deadly snake poked its head out from a gap next to the airconditioning unit.

The terrified shop worker screamed as she fled to the back of the building. However, what happened next left her 'traumatised' and 'suffering nightmares'.

CCTV shows how the killer reptile dropped to the floor and then made a menacing dart towards her. It slithered under the counter unit and appeared to be ready to attack.

Workmen standing outside the shop were alerted by Fern's screams for help and ran inside. One man wrestled with the snake while dragging it outside by the tail.

Speaking after, Fern said: 'I am traumatized. I had nightmares after this happened. But I still need to work so I have to come back to the same place.

'I keep thinking about the snake and imagining it coming through the ceiling again.'

The python was pulled out into the road and stuffed into a bag. Animal rescue teams then arrived to take it away to be released back into the wild.

Speaking in the video, Fern said: 'When I saw the snake, I wanted to get out of the shop, so I ran. But then I saw the snake's head hanging down and staring at me. I ran to the back of the shop.

'I couldn't leave from behind because it is a dead end. I am afraid of snakes and I never wanted to see one in real life. I'm so lucky that the workers caught the snake.

'Except for one broken jar, the snake left no damage in the shop. This is the first time in my life seeing a snake up close.

'I'm afraid if I open the door there will be a snake hanging there again. I'm still scared. Many people messaged me asking if I was okay, and I told all of them that I am okay but I'm still terrified after what happened.

'People say that if you see a snake, it means that you're meeting your soulmate soon. But if my soulmate comes as big as this snake, then I would rather not.'

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.