Police called after snake sighting at Kirk Hallam petrol station
POLICE were called to a petrol station after a reported sighting of an orange snake.
The snake was spotted on the wall of the Co-op petrol station and food store in Ladywood Road, Kirk Hallam, at around 6.45pm on Saturday.
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Experts believe the snake is likely to have been an orange corn snake.
Officers went out to the site, but could not find it in an initial search of the area.
They then called out experts from an animal sanctuary in Hulland Ward, near Ashbourne, to conduct a more thorough search.
The snake was not found and so far police have received no further reports from concerned members of the public.
A Derbyshire police spokesman said the snake was described by the caller as "like an orange python".
But sanctuary experts believe it was most probably a corn snake, which are far more common.
A spokeswoman for The Co-operative said: "Police were responding to a customer's report of a snake being on the neighbouring wall of the store. No staff reported seeing the snake themselves and the police visit was accompanied by a local pet sanctuary expert.
"None of our staff have reported seeing a snake at that site previously."
Ashley Swift, of the Nottingham Reptile Centre, in Mansfield Road, Sherwood, said corn snakes hail from north America but are popular pets in the UK.
He added: "They come in various colours but orange and orangey brown are the most common colours.
"They are four-and-a-half to five feet long and can occasionally bite, but are not venomous.
"They are escape artists. If a door's not shut properly they will nosey around and get out.
"It's not the time of year they would be in danger from hypothermia and they do not normally stray that far.
"I've heard of these types of snakes going missing for 18 months and someone finding one alive after moving their garden shed."
Anyone who believes they have seen the snake should phone Derbyshire Police on 0345 123 3333. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
18 Comments
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by Mr Risible, The Fake World
Wednesday, July 21 2010, 6:26AM
“"didn't even bother contacting the local newspaper.
The Pit Viper later bit an ex-pat neighbour...who was dead within the hour."
If you'd have contacted the local newspaper, and if it was a quality publication with journalistic integrity (like the NEP, who have large teams of investigative journalists who never has need to resort to using stock photographs and who are always first on the scene and who never need to make up stories out of nothing to fill columns) then maybe a man's life could have been saved. You could have brought awareness to the man that he had a snake in his locale.
You sir, disgust me, as through your apathetic stance of "someone else will do it" you are responsible for another mans death.”
by Snake Owner, Charming
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 8:10PM
“It's in my trousers.
Want to have a butchers hook?”
by Dave, Nottingham
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 6:21PM
“I should imagine, Mr Sensible/Commissar Collinski shape-shifted into a serpent and slithered off.”
by Freedom Fighter, St Anns
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 4:18PM
“How can you call Mr. Sensible a troll? He's just a misguided labour supporter that can't let go.
Not a troll.”
by me, stapleford
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 4:16PM
“Stanton is next to kirk hallam,snakes are a very common sight when i go out in hot weather .
Ive seen them regular over the past ten years, they realy are not a problem, if anything the just keep the small rodent population down .”