STAFF at a Worcester card shop had to deal with a slippery customer just before opening time.

A 3ft (0.9 metre) orange and brown snake which slithered its way into the Card Fair store in Broad Street was the star attraction surprising passers-by and commuters on their way to work at 9am yesterday.

The reptile, believed to be an American Corn Snake, was found by the store manager coiled around a key ring display stand, near the front doors.

Messaoud Zetili, assistant manager of the More Or Less store next door, could not believe his eyes.

He said: "My manager came in and called to me to say there was a snake in the card shop.

"It was beautiful and it was moving, going around and coiling itself around the stand.

"It was a good size, it wasn't small."

As more people gathered around the shop window to watch the unfolding drama, shop staff managed to box in the snake and call the RSPCA.

Mr Zetili added: "We didn't know if it was dangerous or not and everybody was panicking but it was really exciting."

The corn snake, named for its natural habitat, can bite but is not venomous and feeds mostly on rodents which it constricts by coiling its body around its prey.

Arthur Hall was on his way to get his hair cut when he spotted the commotion outside the card shop.

He said: "We thought it must have escaped from somebody's flat."

Judith Haw, RSPCA spokeswoman, confirmed an animal collection officer had picked up the snake from the shop, which reopened shortly afterwards.

It is not known where the reptile has been taken or what condition it was in when collected.