An aggressive wild monitor lizard sparked panic when it attacked a factory in Thailand.

The 6ft-long beast scurried into the furniture manufacturing facility and terrorised the workers as it went on a rampage in Samut Prakan province at 6 pm on June 28.

Staff called animal catchers to control the rabid beast that snapped at anyone trying to approach.

Footage shows volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation cornering the monitor lizard in a small room, where the animal tried to hide behind large wooden boards. The officers poked and prodded it using their tools, and successfully dragged it out in 30 minutes.

They tied up the lizard's jaws and limbs to prevent it from hurting anyone. The reptile was carried away on a stretcher, and later released into the wild.

Volunteer Chalee Busabong said: 'The operation was challenging due to the narrow surroundings and the water monitor's aggression. We advise people without expertise in handling such animals to refrain from attempting to capture them as it can be dangerous.

'They should contact the rescue team instead to minimise the risk of bites or attacks, especially when the animal is frightened or threatened.'

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.