A python had to be rescued after getting stuck in the narrow hole in a drain cover in Chonburi, eastern Thailand on December 18.

Astonished resident Lamai Insan, 53, was collecting rubbish when he noticed the helpless snake.

Scared by the rubbish truck, the snake tried to slither away through the narrow hole but became stuck, with its tail poking out in the air.

Rescue workers arrived and tried to use vegetable oil to lubricate the serpent - but it remained firmly wedged in the concrete cover.

They finally had to lift the lid and smash it open before cutting away the blue plastic pipe.

The python was finally rescued and put in the sack to be released back to the wild.

Lamai said that the python was scared by the garbage truck and tried to flee down the drain before getting stuck.

He said: "The snake was hiding near the litter and the truck scared him, so it tried to escape down the drain but was stuck."