This picture taken from the Facebook page of Ms Trina Hibberd, a resident of Mission Beach in Queensland, Australia, shows a 5.2m-long python named "Monty" that slithered into her bedroom in the early hours yesterday.

The 40kg reptile was discovered by a guest at the house who was woken up after it turned on a light and knocked over a lamp.

A snake-catcher was called and Monty has now been transferred to a sewage pond where it is hoped it will take care of a rat infestation.