Fanatic locals threw rocks at police in chaotic Buddhist temple standoff in Thailand.

The group - reportedly followers of the former Wat Bang Khlan temple head ousted for alleged corruption in 2014 - continued to block authorities from reclaiming the compound in an ongoing, almost decade-long feud in Phichit province.

Footage shows the defiant men pelting rocks from behind the barricaded gates of the religious property as police and soldiers tried to penetrate the temple and help its new official administrator move in on July 13.

But the operation had failed as aside from attacking officers with rocks, they also reportedly bagged urine and human faeces to chase them away.

Sumet Metheerattanapiphat, the local council leader, said: ‘We mobilised a team of more than 100 personnel from the military, police, and provincial authorities to conduct an operation aimed at cleaning up the temple premises.

‘But despite our efforts, we were unable to gain access. We were met with rocks and water mixed with human waste.'

District chief Sumet added that aside from the poop and urine water canons, the road leading to the temple was obstructed by women and the elderly who blocked the road.

He said: ‘In addition to preventing Phra Kru Sitthi Warakorn and government agencies from inspecting the former abbot's property, the disciples of the former abbot refused to hand over control of the property to the current abbot, despite the former abbot's passing.'

The group is allegedly using the former head monk's house inside the compound as their headquarters, where valuables, including a 100 million baht (2.2 million GBP) worth of ivory collection, were being kept.

The roots of the dispute can be traced back to 2014 when the former abbot Phra Kru Wisit Silaporn was removed from his position due to alleged mismanagement of temple assets.