A giant python was discovered curled up inside a toilet at a hair salon in Malaysia.

The 12ft (4m) reptile was spotted at the bottom of the bowl when an elderly customer went to use the restroom in Sabah.

Footage shows the animal filling nearly half of the fixture, with its head resting on its body, on December 23.

No one was hurt, including the snake, which was later evacuated by officers from the Labuan Civil Defence Department.

The customer said: ‘I lifted the lid and was shocked to find the snake. Luckily, it did not attack me. I told the owner immediately.'

Rescuers safely removed the animal from the shop and handed it over to wildlife officials to be released back to nature.

The reticulated python is found throughout Southeast Asia, where they live in forests, swamps, canals and even in cities, causing them to come into conflict with humans. The species is one of the world's largest snakes and can eat humans, cats, dogs, birds, rats and other snakes.