Shocked schoolchildren watched as a huge python slithered on a gym roof in Thailand.

The pupils were in the middle of watching a volleyball game when the large snake emerged from a hole on the ceiling of the Debsirin School sports gym in Saraburi province on August 23.

Footage shows the terrified youngsters shrieking as the volleyball players aimed their shots at the snake, hoping to knock it down to the ground. The python later slithered onto the steel beams and was caught by local reptile handlers.

The reticulated python is found throughout Southeast Asia, where they live in forests, swamps, canals and even in cities, causing them to come into conflict with humans. The species is one of the world's largest snakes and can eat humans, cats, dogs, birds, rats and other snakes.