A huge python was removed from the ceiling of a police station in Indonesia.

Officers began investigating when they heard noises in the roof of the Tanjung Bumi Police Sector Office in Bangkalan Regency, East Java, on June 13.

They were surprised to find a giant serpent hiding inside the building.

Assistant Inspector Kurniawan said: 'Initially, we were only suspicious of the noise coming from inside the roof. It turned out there was a fairly large hole, and a police officer saw a snake on the roof.'

The officials then searched for the reptile, which had been hiding in gaps in the roof, until the ceiling of the detention room finally gave way.

Kurniawan added: 'The effort was quite difficult because of the snake's large size and strength.'

Footage shows Officer Agus struggling to remove the 17ft python while the gigantic snake tries to wrap around his body before leaping from the ladder.

Police successfully captured the reptile, which is set to be released back into its natural habitat.

Indonesia has a large population of pythons living in its lush forests. The plentiful sources of food have allowed them to grow particularly large.

However, increasing urbanisation and the rise in palm oil farms and rubber plantations has lead to increasing conflict with humans - often with the pythons coming out on top.