Police are hunting tourists who were seen having a threesome on a beach in Thailand.

Footage shows the randy trio romping in the sand in full view of passers-by on Patong Beach in Phuket on July 13.

Two men appeared to standing up while a third was bent over between them as waves from the choppy sea crashed at their knees.

A shocked local said they recorded the video as they were too afraid to confront the group in flagrant.

They said: 'I was about 50 metres away but I could see they were doing something wrong. It was not that late at night and the lights were on the beach. Many people could see them.

'They should have gone to a hotel room instead of doing it on the beach. They are harming the reputation of the city.'

Patong Police Station said they were aware of the incident and were searching for the people seen in the clip.

A spokesman said: 'We have looked and we're not sure if it's two men and a woman or three men. It isn't easy to be sure. My colleague thinks its a woman involved but I am sure it's three men. They are all foreigners, there are no Thai nationals in the video.'

Outraged locals have also urged authorities to increase patrols along the shores to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

Tourists having public sex has been a perennial problem plaguing Thai authorities.

On April 21, a couple were seen fornicating on a craggy cliff overlooking the idyllic Ao Yon Beach on the same island.

While on April 16, two tourists beachgoers were caught having sex in the shallows of Patong Beach also in Phuket.

Earlier on April 7, yet another couple was spotted having sex on a paddle board, also off Phuket island.

The randy pair were seen romping around 100ft from the shores of Karon Beach, sparking a police investigation to determine their identities.

Under Section 388 of Thailand's Criminal Code, 'any person who performs such a disgraceful act in public by undressing himself, exhibiting his undressed person or committing any other act of obscenity shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred baht'.