Snake wranglers removed a huge python after it slithered into a family's car in Thailand.

The 8ft long serpent crawled into the engine compartment of the white Toyota Innova just as car owner Thiparat Petchtaweerat, 54, was walking past her garage in Chonburi province on February 15.

Shocked Thiparat backed away from her car and frightened the snake would attack her so she called the local wildlife specialists to help.

The officers arrived shortly after, opening the Innova's bonnet to find the python curled beneath a tangle of wires.

They used snake tongs to pull it out of the cramped hiding spot before putting it into a fertiliser sack. It was later released into the wilderness unharmed.

Thiparat said: 'I'm scared now every time I get into my car. I'm afraid there will be a snake inside.'

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.