An exotic-looking orange snake has been found dead on a road in Ipswich.

Police were called to Rushmere Road, at the junction with Humber Doucy Lane, just before 10am.

A force spokesman said that RSPCA officers were en-route to the scene and added that no-one had been hurt by the snake. It is believed to be about three feet long and is understood to be someone’s pet.

Local vicar Bruce Wakeling, from St. Andrew’s church Rushmere, said: “Someone from the church said it was basking in the sunshine yesterday and when they came back it was gone.

“My wife saw one somewhere, but that looks like something more exotic, I don’t think it was one of the local breeds.

“It may be perfectly safe, it could bite you, but so could I.”

A policeman watching over the snake was making sure no other vehicles ran over the creature.

Resident Nikki Taylor said a man in an Enterprise van had first seen the snake and reported it to the police.

She added that she had never seen any snakes in the area before.

A shocked resident said he was saddened and concerned that there was a loose snake in Rushmere.

“Could well be a pet, they’ve got money here to be fair, so I don’t know how much it costs to keep a snake but it must be more than a dog or cat”, he said.

A passer-by said she thought the snake looked like a corn snake and was definitely somebody’s pet.

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