An enormous monitor lizard was rescued after it slithered into a car's engine compartment in Thailand.

The reptile took shelter inside car owner Hanafi Sangadam's white Toyota Vios to keep warm during cooler winter temperature in Ayutthaya province on January 22.

He had just finished washing the vehicle when the lizard scurried towards him and crammed itself inside.

A rescue team arrived and tried to pull the creature out from its hiding spot, but it clung tightly.

The specialists then took a different approach and attempted to drag it out from underneath by removing a tire, but the lizard scampered into Hanafi's house.

The slippery animal led the rescuers on a frantic chase around the property but was finally caught after an hour.

It measured roughly 5ft long and was later freed into its natural habitat.

The team explained that they were careful in handling the beast as it could bite them or damage the car's engine.

A grateful Hanafi said: 'The lizard might bring me good fortune. I plan to buy a lottery ticket using my house number and 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.