A wild monitor lizard rampaged through a university classroom in Thailand.

Footage shows the 4ft-long reptile scampering across the smooth tile floor at a school building in Surin province on May 24.

Animal rescuers and teachers followed behind until it was cornered and secured with a pole.

The creature tried to escape but soon after, the volunteers successfully tucked it inside a sack before being taken out of the compound.

Teacher Puntipa said: ‘The lizard was tired after running away across the building. It was not aggressive.'

The creature was later released back into its habitat. No one was hurt or damaged.

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, sometimes carrying harmful bacteria. The Godzilla-like reptiles are also a protected species in the country so their population thrives.