A golden tree snake hiding inside a robot statue was caught by snake handlers inside a shopping mall in Thailand.

The serpent jolted employees when it slithered onto the robot display while they were opening their store at the supermarket in Nonthaburi, Thailand on November 2.

The workers called a rescue crew, who sprayed chemicals in the nooks of the sculpture made out of old car parts to flush out the reptile.

After an hour, the 5ft snake emerged at the back of the robot, allowing the rescuers to drag it out and return it to its natural habitat.

Volunteer Sakchai Chaisiri, 42, said: 'People should call the hotline if they encounter a snake. They should not try to wrangle it by themselves.'

Employee Charoen Palakawong, 25, said he had been opening the store as usual when a mallgoer's kid approached the robot statue to inspect it. However, the youngster was terrified and ran away after seeing the snake inside.

The golden tree snake, also known as the ornate flying snake, is a slender and tree-dwelling snake species found in Southeast Asia. It is famous for its striking green and gold coloration and is capable of gliding through the air by flattening its body and undulating, making it an impressive aerial acrobat.