A rampaging Kuwaiti tourist has been arrested for running across a motorway and entering villagers' homes in Thailand.

The shirtless foreigner sparked panic when he sprinted through the busy highway before trespassing into the TFD Industrial Estate in the Bang Pakong district of Chachoengsao province on May 26.

Highway Police and Bang Pakong district police officers chased after the fleeing man as he ran back towards the motorway before crossing over into the Kemtid Village.

He was seen wandering through the neighbourhood streets, sparking panic among alarmed residents when he wandered near their homes.

The man eventually made his way into a nearby rice field, with officers catching up to him as he stopped to take a breath. They gave him a drink, but the tourist continued his rampage and jumped into a ditch to escape once again.

However, he was already exhausted and was easily caught by authorities.

Police Captain Pongphop Kudhom of the Bang Pakong Police Station said: 'The man told us he was from Kuwait. We believe he is between 35 to 40 years old, but we do not know his name since he had no proper documentation with him.'

Witoon Chanpuangsen, head of the Bang Pakong Motorway Rescue, said: 'The man came from Pattaya and arrived on the motorway on a taxi. He left it on the roadside when it broke down. He told us he was waiting for help, but was spooked when we arrived, so he ran away.'

The tourist was taken into police custody at the Bang Pakong station while officials waited for him to calm down.