A MASSIVE 3ft crocodile that was spotted swimming in the water sparked chaos among tourists at a popular holiday hotspot in Spain.

Holidaymakers were left in shock after spotting the scaly reptile near a popular bathing spot, the reservoir in Albacete in Castilla-La Mancha.

The reptile was luckily seen by two teenagers and captured by cops before it could cause any harm.

The Guardia Civil is now probing who may have released the animal into the reservoir in Albacete in Castilla-La Mancha.

The nature protection service (Seprona) originally thought the reptile was an alligator but later identified it as a yacare caiman.

This species is a member of the crocodile family usually found in Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia.

The creature was captured with bait by Seprona officers, in collaboration with an environmental team, members of the fishing club and staff from the Albacete wildlife recovery centre.

Since its capture, the croc has been sent to Madrid Zoo.

The place where it was found is a regular bathing area, located near a jetty.

The Civil Guard of Albacete has launched an investigation to identify the person who may have illegally released the animal into the reservoir.

The possession and release of exotic species without authorisation constitutes a serious infringement of wildlife conservation regulations, as well as a possible environmental crime.

A local environmental agency said: “This type of irresponsible release represents a serious risk to local biodiversity and can generate security problems.”

The harrowing discovery has sparked fear in the area, with many locals and tourists saying they are now scared of swimming in public lakes and reservoirs.

The yacare caiman can reach a length of one and a half metres as an adult.

Due to its mottled skin it is highly sought after by the footwear industry.

But the species is protected by legislation as it is registered in the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora.

Cops believe the main line of investigation is that this caiman ended up in Spain through the illegal pet trade.

Yacare caimans breed in the summer, and its diet usually consists of fish, crustaceans, snails and other molluscs.

But it is also capable of capturing other reptiles and small mammals in cases of extreme hunger.