A cobra mistaken for a sock stuck in washing machine was caught in India.

The venomous snake slithered into the appliance and was thought to be a piece of clothing that jammed its motors in Kerala on July 20.

It was being pulled by a repair technician called by the family who reported that the machine was broken, before the snake narrowly missed biting the worker and the rescuers were contacted.

Footage shows a rescue worker searching for the serpent inside the washing machine before pulling it out with a hook.

It was placed on the floor where it tried to escape before being successfully put inside a bag.

Technician Janardhanan Kadamberi said: ‘I thought it was a sock but it moved and almost bit me in the hand.

‘The washing machine was unused for two weeks and the owners don't know how it got inside.'

Rescuer Anil Trichambaram released the juvenile cobra into the forest. No one was hurt and the snake was unhurt.