This is the horrifying moment a huge monitor lizard was found climbing through a family's bathroom.

The shocked locals heard banging coming from the home before discovering the beast in the property on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand.

Footage shows the reptile clambering out of the toilet window towards a nearby canal.

Resident Thimpika Pingpong said: 'While I was inside the house, I suddenly heard a noise coming from the back.

'I went to check and was shocked. The lizard was huge.

'Everyone was stunned. My mum quickly shut the door, and the lizard ran into the bathroom. Mom sprayed water at it while holding the door open with her other hand.'

The family successfully drove the animal out of the house and called animal rescuers to remove it from their garden.

Thimpika added: 'I felt so relieved. I didn't know what to do. All I could do was secretly watch.'

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.