A monitor lizard scurried into a family's living room, sparking panic among residents.

The 4ft reptile scrambled through the main door when it was opened and dashed across the tile floor in Bangkok, Thailand, on December 11.

CCTV footage shows the lizard scrambling into the corner of the room, trying to exit through the transparent wide windows.

It scared a couple away who were sitting on the couch, including a grandmother on the dining table who was preparing lunch.

Frightened resident Ingfah Sornnarin said: 'The monitor lizard waited for the right moment and entered our house. It thought it could pass through glass because it was transparent.'

One of the family members arrived with a broom which he used to drag and push the animal outside.

No one was hurt including the animal which escaped into a field nearby.

Asian water monitor lizards normally live in canals, swamps, sewers and ponds in cities in Thailand. They feed on fish, snakes, frogs and scraps of food left by humans.

The reptiles are aggressive when threatened and have a mildly venomous bite which sometimes carries harmful bacteria. The Godzilla-like reptiles are also a protected species in the country so their population thrives.