A litter of week-old kittens were rescued after being trapped in a car's engine compartment in Thailand.

The baby felines were heard mewling under the white Toyota C-HR vehicle, prompting the owner to call animal rescue workers on June 6.

The specialists arrived at the house in Surin province and were greeted by the litter's loud cries. They proceeded to remove the engine splash shield under the vehicle before flashing a light into the dark space.

Inside the engine compartment were two male and two female moggies around seven days old and still unable to open their eyes. They were hiding behind a black plastic partition which the workers also removed.

A rescuer then reached inside and pulled the kittens out one by one. After 20 minutes, all of them were safely out of the vehicle.

The owner said it was the second time a stray cat had been stuck in his Toyota.

The officers believe the mother cat had hidden them away under the car after heavy rain had hit the neighbourhood. They urged drivers to always check for hidden animals before using their vehicles.