A generous Buddhist monk celebrated his birthday by showering his followers with banknotes worth 150,000 baht (4,428 USD) from a crane.

Phra Khru Phot Suwannarat, also known as Luang Phor Kaen, rode a decorated platform into the air before scattering hundreds of bills towards his followers at the Wat Suwannarat Phothiyaram in Surin province, Thailand, on March 28.

The attendees scrambled to grab the cash fluttering to the ground while the crane moved the monk across the field.

Phra Khru said he was holding a double celebration for his 46th birthday, and his 24th year in the monkhood.

He said: 'I wanted to show generosity to set a good example for the local people.'

Delighted attendee Nong June said she managed to scoop up around 1,2000 Baht (28 GBP).

She said: 'Phra Khru is so kind. He is like one of the family now. Everybody loves him because he is so sharing.'

Thai monks are traditionally prohibited from owning or accepting money as they are expected to live a simple and ascetic lifestyle without accumulating personal wealth.

However, not all monks adhere to this practice in modern times.