A driver sped away when he saw a house roof being blown away by a storm in northern Thailand.

CCTV footage shows freak winds battering the property in Nakhon Sawan on May 7.

A pickup truck was seen accelerating away when the gusts ripped off the metal sheets that covered the top of the house.

The motorist then quickly climbed out of his car and went to the house to check it as the wind died down.

Resident Pharida Ouengaot said: 'I was taking my vehicle away in case there was debris, then returned to the house to retrieve important items.

The Thai Meteorological Department issued warnings over westerly and southwesterly winds hovering Andaman Sea, the South, and the Gulf that caused isolated heavy rains in the region.

There was a heavy rain alert that could bring flash floods, especially in low-lying areas.

Waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf were expected to reach about 3ft (1m) and over 7ft (2m) during thundershowers.

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are at the start of their annual monsoon rainy season, which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms. The rudimentary infrastructure often struggles with the deluge, leading to widespread flash floods.