A gargantuan python was caught slithering on the wall of a French family's garden.

The massive 26ft long leviathan was seen emerging from shrubbery in the corner of the rented property when French ex-pat Emmanuel, 52, lives with his mother.

Footage shows the enormous snake hanging from the branches in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand.

It was so huge that half of its muscular body remained on the other side of the wall while its head reached down the grass, blending into the colour of plants on March 20.

Emmanuel, who lives in the apartment with his 74-year-old mum, said: 'I thought the snake was a log at first.

'I was about to pull it when I realised it was a python up close. I'm glad we noticed it before dark, or it could have gone into the house. We will be having nightmares for some time.'

Emmanuel called the Thai landlady, Meenanuch, who called the emergency services to deal with the beast.

Footage shows a volunteer trying to drag the snake away from the wall with a metal pole and a noose.

The python was aggressive and tried to resist the team members until a volunteer climbed on the other side to push it away.

The reptile was eventually caught and removed from the property to be released into the wild.

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.