This is the amusing moment a monkey helped a woman by plucking thorns from her arm.

The zookeeper sought help from the macaque after a couple of prickles from a plant she was watering lodged in her skin in Jiyuan, China.

Footage shows the local, wearing a glove, extending her arm as she walks toward the primate lounging on the ground on May 17.

She can be seen showing the thorns to the monkey, seemingly asking it to help remove the spikes.

After inspecting her arm, the animal swiftly plucked out the thorns using its tiny fingers within seconds, then calmly continued to rest on the rock while the woman raised her arm in relief.

Experts said that this behaviour is linked to social grooming, a key part of primate bonding.