Twitter goes into meltdown for image of python that 'ate a drunk person'

A picture claiming to be of a python that has swallowed a man has gone viral [TWITTER]

The image posted by a user of the social networking site based in India has been retweeted almost 15,000 times and been favourited more than 4,000 times.

The picture shows a huge snake lying on the ground with what looks like a person sized bulge inside their stomach.

Twitter user Vikraman Nair, who posted the picture of the bloated snake, said the image was of a python who ate a person whole.

He shared the picture with the caption: "A Python ate a person who was drunk and lying beside the liquor shop. News from Attapady, Kerala."

However, while the picture shocked thousands of Twitter users it is claimed to be a fake as it has been circulated for more than a year.

In the past websites have claimed the picture showed a man eaten in China in August 2012 and a person eaten in Indonesia in January 2013.

Website The Hoax Slayer also alleges the picture has appeared on the web since at least September 2012.