Dozens of Cambodian artillery shells fell on Thai villages as clashes raged on the disputed border.

Mortar fire rained down on homes and farmland, scattering 33 shells in Buriram province, northeast Thailand, today.

Footage shows village officials and soldiers inspecting a rubber plantation, where they found several trees splintered by Cambodian artillery.

Village council leader Wuthikrai Chimngam said the barrage began early in the morning, at the frontline near the ancient temple Prasat Ta Kwai.

He said: 'We received reports that rockets had landed in villagers' rubber plantations. Troops were then deployed to investigate, but before they could reach the area, several more artillery rounds were heard, forcing a swift withdrawal.

'Once the gunfire stopped, a further inspection found mortar shells, both exploded and unexploded. Several villagers' rubber trees had been damaged.'

He added that the 'indiscriminate' shelling began on December 8, with 33 landing in the Ban Kruat District so far.

The plantation has been cordoned off for investigation by an explosive ordnance team.

Territorial clashes flared up earlier this year before a brief ceasefire, but started again this month when Cambodian troops are said to have fired on a Thai engineering team building an access road in a disputed border area.

In the most recent battles, at least 19 Thai soldiers and one civilian have been killed.

In Cambodia, the number of military fatalities is believed to be much higher, though regime chiefs have not revealed the actual figure.

Around 600,000 people have been displaced on both sides of the border.

Cambodia's assault has largely been wayward, unguided rockets fired indiscriminately into Thai territory, including an attack on July 24 THAT killed eight people and injured 13 others. Thailand has used precision drone strikes and fighter jet strikes on military sites.

Former Khmer Rouge henchman and Cambodian dictator Hun Sen - who was a leading figure in the genocide of his own people in the 1970s before assuming power in 1985 and overseeing the murder of thousands of opposition figures and critics - has repeatedly claimed that he wants peace and that Thailand is the aggressor.

Thai officials claim the ongoing border confrontations are a threat to national security, and the areas must be secured.