Snake in a drain gives workers a fright

Engineers got "the shock of our lives" when they opened up a drain to find a hissing snake staring back at them.

An Essex and Suffolk Water crew encountered the snake while repairing a leak at Vange in Basildon, Essex.

They stopped work to avoid disturbing the animal and called South Essex Wildlife Hospital to collect it.

"We see all sorts when we're out repairing leaks, but a python was definitely a new one," said a spokesperson for the water company.

The workers came across the snake on Tuesday.

"We'd just set up the site when we started hearing hissing coming from the meter chamber," the spokesperson said.

"We very cautiously lifted it up and got the shock of our lives when we saw a 3-4ft (0.9-1.2m) python staring back at us!"

"No idea how it got in there, but we're pleased that it's now safe and being looked after."

Volunteers from the wildlife hospital at Orsett came to collect it and confirmed it was a non-venomous carpet python, native to Australia and New Guinea, and probably a pet.

Founder Sue Schwar said: "It's just part of the daily jobs that we get thrown at us. We're ready for anything, really."

She said it was possible the snake had escaped, maybe down a toilet, or had been dumped somewhere.

"That does happen quite frequently. So, how it got down under the drain, we've no idea."

She said the snake, which has not been named, was "not very happy" when it was found.

"It was a bit dehydrated and really cold and it's got a few injuries on it, so hopefully we can get it back to health," she said.

"Then, obviously, if an owner doesn't come forward we'll be looking to try and find a home for it."

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