Reptile catchers wrangled a 7ft-long monitor lizard rampaging through a police station in Thailand.

The beast sparked panic among visitors when it scurried into the Nangrong Police Station in Buriram province on May 30.

Animal handlers were notified to catch the Godzilla-like lizard after it hid under a desk in front of a prison cell.

Footage shows the specialists surrounding the animal and trying to loop a noose around its neck. After 30 minutes, they finally snared the reptile, which snapped at them aggressively. They bound its limbs and snout to keep it from escaping before hauling it out of the station.

Nangrong police officers said it was the first time a monitor lizard had wandered into their office. They said they were unsure where it came from.

The animal was later freed into its natural habitat.

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.