8:49am Thursday 30th August 2007
By Staff Reporter
THIS is Fred - the snake who caused chaos at a warehouse in Radcliffe.
The grass snake was discovered at Ashworth's plumbers' merchants in Higher Ainsworth Road and the warehouse had to be closed for six hours on Tuesday amid fears it could be poisonous. But today he is resting in a rescue centre in Tonge Moor, where his new carer, Denise Frain, held him in the palm of her hand.
Mrs Frain runs the centre from her house in Cartmel Crescent, where there are a number of reptile residents including iguanas and tortoises.
She said: "Since I opened the centre in May, 2005, we have rescued 235 animals, but this is the first grass snake we have had.
"They are native to England but are usually found in Derbyshire or the Lake District. They are quite rare in this area.
"Fred has soon become part of the family and he will be rehabilitated here for the next few weeks."
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/trade_directory/