These women are paid to fire toy guns at monkeys to protect the public in Singapore.

The crew from the National Environment Agency regularly patrols streets and spaces between apartment buildings to help manage the macaque population and reduce potential damage to property.

Footage shows a troop running around a park near homes, moving freely among trees, walkways, and playgrounds on August 2.

Whenever the simians approach buildings or people, the toy gun-wielding women arrive to scare them away using small, non-lethal pellets.

One crew member was heard politely asking residents to step back before firing.

Onlooker Beverly Lim said: ‘I was surprised to see a large group of monkeys roaming freely along the pedestrian walkway, lingering around the apartments, and even emerging from a unit with food in their mouths. They were sliding down the aircon.'

The crew then works to disperse the macaques and prevent them from gathering in large groups around homes.

After firing a toy gun, a bell is rung to further encourage the animals to leave the area.

Monkeys are often seen in Singapore's urban areas because cities provide easy access to food. Over time, they have become used to living close to humans.