A STARTLED fisherman almost got an unexpected catch – after spotting a snake swimming towards him across the lake.

Steve Gibbs was fishing at a lake near Malvern when he spotted the snake.

He quickly downed his fishing gear and reached for his camera, taking this fantastic photo.

Mr Gibbs identified the snake as a grass snake – later confirmed by local expert Nigel Hand, of Central Ecology.

Mr Hand says grass snakes are quite at home in the water – happily slithering in in search of their favoured prey.

"The snake in the photo is a harmless native grass snake," Mr Hand said.

"Grass snakes are an aquatic species and readily take to water in search of their favoured prey – frogs, toads, newts or even small fish.

"I have seen them swimming across Worcestershire rivers such as the Severn, canals, ponds and lakes and they are regularly reported in garden ponds particularly the larger, wilder gardens in the rural outskirts.

"In Worcestershire it is much more widespread in distribution than the adder, which is now becoming much rarer only found in a couple of locations in the county."

Mr Hand says anyone who spots a snake should leave it be but try to take a photo and report the sighting, as numbers are declining across the UK.

"If people encounter a snake, they should not attempt to catch or disturb it," he said.

"Take a photo for identification purposes and either contact myself or the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and submit the location details to the local biological record centre, wbrc.org.uk, as snakes are declining over the UK, being impacted by urban growth and habitat loss.

"Any recorded sightings are important in order to help protect them.

To have a grass snake turn up in your garden is a notable occurrence please respect and try to accommodate this shy and fascinating native reptile just as you would any other visiting native wild animal."

To report a snake sighting to Mr Hand email nigel@centralecology.co.uk.