Wild monitor lizard walks onto road and holds up cars at traffic lights

A huge monitor lizard caused a traffic hold-up when it ambled in front of cars waiting at a junction.

The reptile swaggered onto the road at a set of traffic lights in Bangkok, central Thailand, on Sunday afternoon .

Bemused drivers and motorcyclists looked on as the water monitor lizard scampered through the busy lanes of vehicles.

The creature is believed to have emerged from a nearby pond near the Victory Monument, one of the most well-known landmarks in the centre of the Thai capital.

Several passers-by walked into the road to protect the lizard from being squashed and they then ushered it back into the undergrowth away from road dangers.

The motorcycle rider who captured the scene said he was astonished when he saw the lizard walking in front of cars.

He said: ''The lizard should be careful, he could be arrested for jay walking.

I'm relieved people came to help the animal.''