A python was caught at the bottom of a holiday villa swimming pool.

Footage shows the 8ft-long reptile taking a dip in the water with its head resting on the edge while its entire body was submerged underwater in Phuket, Thailand, on October 20.

The serpent was caught by a wildlife rescuer with a stick and removed from the property.

Snake handler Apparat Lanhad said: ‘The giant python was caught swimming in the luxurious villa. There could have been problems if somebody jumped into the pool.'

The reticulated python is found throughout Southeast Asia, where they live in forests, swamps, canals and even in cities, causing them to come into conflict with humans. The species is one of the world's largest snakes and can eat humans, cats, dogs, birds, rats and other snakes.