Scared schoolboys tried to catch a snake with brooms - then fled in fear when it slithered towards them.

Footage shows the boys each holding a cleaning tool to scare the serpent out of their classroom in Nong Bua Lamphu province, Thailand on May 25.

But when the thin 4ft-long creature emerged out of its hiding space, the terrified kids ran, screamed and rushed to leave.

Some of the pupils climbed up their desks to steer clear of the wild animal that invaded their room.

Teacher Nutchapol said: ‘We were on lunch break that time. The kids were shouting and calling me for help. I checked what it was. I thought they were only joking, but it really was a snake.'

The snake slithered around the classroom while the children stayed in the corner with their teacher.

Soon after, the snake found a way out of the door and returned to the forest near the school. No one was hurt in the incident.