Python on electricity post sparks panic in Thai red light district

A python sparked panic in Thailand's red light district after it was seen coiled around a 25ft high electricity pole.

The serpent slithered onto the high voltage cables in the Walking Street area of Pattaya, Thailand, just after midnight.

Shocked tourists gathered below and pointed at the 7ft long reptile. Rescue workers arrived and climbed onto billboards to try to catch the snake, but they were afraid of being electrocuted.

Police used a cherry picker to ascend and yank the python from its position before pulling it down to safety below. Onlookers cheered and posed for pictures when the snake was finally captured.

Tourist Hamed Jahandar from Iran said: ''There were people crowded around and traffic jams so I went to look. I couldn't believe there was a snake up there.''

Police said they were concerned that the python could be electrocuted or fall to the ground and cause chaos among passing pedestrians.

Officers took the snake to a waiting pickup truck before it was driven several miles away and released into the wild.