A giant crocodile that had been stalking a village was rescued when it became stuck in a ditch in Indonesia.

Residents reported seeing the 25ft beast swimming in the river before it entered a dyke near homes, sparking panic in Indragiri Hilir Regency.

A group of brave locals then decided to intervene and remove the reptile when it struggled to leave get back out of the shallow waterway on October 31.

Terrifying footage shows the dramatic operation as they attempted to tie a rope around the reptile's snout, while it resisted, demonstrating its strength.

After several unsuccessful attempts, one resident finally managed to secure the animal. Others worked to tie a rope around the croc's body to pull it to safety.

Adjunct Commissioner Sahri, Chief of the Reteh Police Sector, said: 'The presence of the reptile caused anxiety among residents. It was very large.'

Police and rescue personnel were also on site to assist at least 20 residents during the operation.

To move the animal, estimated to weigh up to one ton, it was first evacuated via the river. Villagers tied used jerry cans to its body as flotation aids while towing it by boat.

The evacuation continued by vehicle, with residents and officers struggling to lift the enormous croc onto the truck manually.

Eventually, the creature was relocated to a rehabilitation centre.

Authorities warned: 'The river in this area is home to many crocodiles. The public should exercise caution when near the water.'

The Indonesian archipelago is home to 14 types of crocs, with a large population of extremely large and violent estuarine crocodiles that flourish in the region's climate.

Conservationists believe that crocodiles have been driven further inland closer to villages due to overfishing reducing the crocodiles' natural food supplies combined with habitat loss from the development of coastal areas into farms.

Widespread tin mining has also caused villagers to encroach on the crocodiles' natural habitats, pushing the creatures closer toward people's homes.

With uneducated locals in the developing country still using rivers for bathing and primitive fishing, the deadly combination of factors has led to rising numbers of crocodile attacks.