Two fierce Godzilla-like monitor lizards body-locked each other in a tight hug during a fight.

Footage shows the reptiles, both around 5ft-long, wrestling in the back garden of a family's home in Samut Prakan province, Thailand on May 14.

Even after the residents and their pet dog discovered them duelling on the property, the defiant creatures refused to let go.

A winner briefly emerged after successfully knocking down its opponent to the ground before the guard pooch approached and scared them away.

Resident Sathapron said: 'They looked like friends who saw each other for the first time in a while. But my friend told me they were actually fighting.'

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.