A hero pet dog barked to warn its owners of a sinister cobra lurking in their garden in Thailand.

The female pooch named Prite was playing in the yard when it encountered the 5ft cobra resting near a mango tree at the family's home in Bangkok on September 15.

Prite began barking incessantly at the intruder, alerting homeowner Aoi Waree Uamklin, 68 to the snake's presence.

The terrified pensioner called the local reptile catchers, who found the pair locked in a stand-off in the yard, with brave Prite snarling to intimidate the cobra.

The rescue crew used a snake pole to ensnare the cobra, then sealed it inside a sack before handing it over to the fire station. It was released into its natural habitat away from the residential area.

Grandma Aoi said: 'I heard Prite barking at something in the yard. At first, I couldn't see what it was because the cobra's head and tail were hidden in the grass. But then I heard a loud hiss, so I ran back inside.

'I was afraid it would enter the house because I lived with my two grandchildren. I called my son, who called the rescuers for help. I didn't know what kind of snake it was until the rescue team arrived.'

Rescue volunteer Samran Sawadee said: 'The cobra likely entered the house due to the frequent rains in the area recently. It may have been searching for a new shelter and food source, then slithered into this garden.

'During the rainy season, many snakes invade residents' homes. If you do encounter a snake, don't try to catch it yourself. Call the rescue volunteers in your area.'

Researchers found that 7,000 people are treated for snake bites each year in Thailand. Suchai Suteparuk from the Division of Toxicology at Chulalongkorn University reported that 30 of those die, with cobras being the biggest killer.