Villagers paraded demon effigies as they celebrated their annual Ghost Festival in southern Thailand.

Footage shows creepy demon statues with grotesque limbs and gory facial features being paraded through Nakhon Si Thammarat on September 20.

Footage shows residents swaying along to music as they danced with the long-necked creatures in the city square.

Among the effigies were sculptures allegedly resembling Cambodian leaders such as former Prime Minister Hun Sen and his son, incumbent premier Hun Manet, as well as Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence.

There were also effigies of corrupt senior Buddhist monks and a naked figure of a woman from the infamous 'Sika Golf' sex scandal.

The demons, locally called 'preta', were temporarily displayed at Sanam Na Muang Public Park before being returned to the provincial government hall.

A shadow puppet play was later held, slamming the Buddhist clergy's alleged corruption.

Local authorities said more than a thousand visitors, including foreign tourists, attended the events.

Thailand's Ghost Festival is an annual tradition where people honour spirits and their deceased ancestors. The celebration usually features colourful processions, lively music, offerings to the dead, and sometimes effigies of sinners or ghosts to remind people of karma and morality.