Three farmers helped drag a huge python out of a paddy field in India.

The locals spotted the 10ft (3 metres) serpent sleeping in the dirt between stalks and quickly evacuated it in Uttar Pradesh on October 22.

Footage shows the trio pulling the animal to the roadside. Two of them held the snake with a sack while their other companion lifted its body with a rope.

The residents helped take the python back to the forest. It was unhurt and released to its habitat.

Pythons are protected in India under various national wildlife protection laws as they play a critical role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems. They help control populations of smaller animals such as rodents, birds, and other mammals, preventing overpopulation and crop damage.