Playful elephants sprayed water on rescuers while helping them deliver food to residents through floods.

Footage shows the jumbos, the male named Valentine and the female Fasai, using their trunks to shower the volunteers and freshen them up during the relief mission in Chiang Mai province, Thailand, on October 5.

The animals helped the team cross the deluge when they patrolled affected villages to give support to families.

One of the rescuers Chamaiporn Arsapanom said: ‘We were grateful for the elephants' assistance. We brought rice to stranded families.

‘The mission was in collaboration with rescue teams from Ammarin South, Sattha Ruamjai, Siam Non, Saengkaew, Siam Nakhon Si, Siam Surat, and Hok 31 Foundation.'

Heavy rains have been ravaging northern Thailand in recent weeks. The seasonal downpours have caused severe floods as rivers burst their banks.

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are at the start of their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms. The rudimentary infrastructure often struggles with the deluge, leading to widespread flash floods.