Eight-foot python found on footpath

6:30pm Tuesday 17th April 2007

Comments (8)   Have your say »

WE all know that if you go down to the woods you could be in for a big surprise, but police officers certainly were when they were confronted by an eight-foot-long (2.4m) Burmese python in Ledbury.

Several members of the public who had been walking along a footpath called the police after they spotted the snake lying motionless on the ground on Sunday.

Sergeant Emma Wright said: "We were unsure of exactly what sort of snake we were dealing with so I took a photo of it on my mobile phone and we contacted the West Midland Safari Park, who pretty quickly confirmed that it was a Burmese python."

Veterinary surgeon Derek Stoakes was called out to the scene and, together with the officers, was able to coax the python into a box.

"I was very impressed by the way the officers dealt with the situation because this was a very large snake," he said.

"I have treated snakes in the past but this was considerably bigger than anything I had seen before.

"The snake was pretty still when I arrived but soon became quite active - possibly because it was quite a warm day."

The snake was transferred to the Vale Wildlife Rescue in Evesham where staff have called the python Monty, and it is said to be in good health. PC Kevin Le Good said: "Sadly, it seems most likely that Monty was abandoned by the roadside by its owner who presumably no longer wanted to keep the snake as a pet.

"Clearly, this was a very dangerous thing to do and was done without any thought to either public safety or the welfare of the snake itself."

Anybody with any information as to who the owner of the snake is should contact police on 08457 444888.