This is the horrifying moment a crazed devil monkey almost killed a motorcycle rider - knocking him to the ground to steal his food.

The ferocious primate leapt onto the bike and swiped its sharp claws at the rider as he emerged from a bend in Lopburi, central Thailand, on March 18.

CCTV shows how the feral macaque knocked the rider, Kittikachorn, to the ground and then ran away with a bag of fruit he had been carrying on the handlebars.

He suffered minor cuts and scratches in the crash and his vehicle also had light damage. His cup of hot coffee that he was carrying was also spilled onto the ground.

Kittikachorn said: 'I could have been seriously hurt. The monkeys are out of control and I want the government to do more to fix the situation.'

Chanachai Sungsith, the owner of the repair shop that recorded the scene, added: 'I was repairing a two-wheeler when it occurred. I witnessed the monkey leaping onto the rider's vehicle, causing him to fall.

'Other monkeys arrived and seized his food. I intervened to shoo away the other monkeys and prevent them from taking any more of his belongings.

'The incident shows how serious the monkey problem is here, many residents have been injured by these wild creatures. Urgent action from relevant agencies is necessary to address this issue and prevent further harm to the community.'

The animal attack was captured in the notorious town of Lopburi, some 110 miles north of the capital Bangkok. It has become known in recent years for its out-of-control population monkey population, leading some to like it to an apocalyptic hellscape - with monkeys even commandeering empty buildings.

They were seen engaging in a massive gang fight in the depths of the pandemic when there was a shortage of food. Attacks on cars, homes, market stalls and visitors have become increasingly frequent.

Despite the dangers, locals are keen to keep the monkeys in the town as they prove a popular draw for tourists from around the world who feed them sugary treats.

The Thai government is struggling to control its macaque problem but has taken steps to manage the monkey population across the country, including creating sanctuaries, mass sterilisation programs, educating the public on how to handle the animals properly, and relocating them to more suitable habitats.