This is the dramatic moment police restrained a group of tourists who were fighting on a beach in Thailand.

Footage captured by local King Daroh Patong shows revellers brawling in the street at Bangla Beach on the island of Phuket.

One holidaymaker was seen picking up a metal road barrier and hurling it at another man in the early hours of September 10.

Meanwhile, two other tourists were on the ground punching and kicking each other as bystanders, including locals and fellow tourists, cheered them on.

Officers stationed at the post then stepped in to break up the fight, restraining those involved.

The tourists were later taken inside the police post and handed over to Patong district police for legal action.

Thailand has been marred by over-tourism as the Thai government implements a visa-free scheme to boost revenue following the barren pandemic years.

Former fishing village Pattaya became popular with American troops on 'rest and relaxation' breaks in the 1950s and 1960s when the US military had bases in Thailand while fighting Communism in Vietnam.

Government chiefs have attempted to clean up the city, but regular violence, depravity, and claims of corruption continue to blight its reputation.