A SNAKE which has been living somewhere in a terraced row of houses throughout winter is probably ready to come out of hiding.

And people living there should expect to come face to face with the on-the-run reptile sooner rather than later.

Snake expert Tim Henshaw, who works at Bolton Aquarium, reckons that now the weather is beginning to improve the snake is likely to move outside.

As the BEN reported, workmen replacing loft insulation at a house in Northfield Street, Deane, last August disturbed a coiled up snake.

But by the time experts were brought in to catch it, the reptile had disappeared.

And since then it has been on the loose, probably passing from house to house inside wall cavities and piping.

There are 18 houses in the terraced row and the snake could be anywhere.

According to Mr Henshaw it will have hibernated throughout winter but will now be ready to put in a belated appearance.

The snake - from a description given by the workmen who saw it - is believed to be either a yellow rat snake or a Californian King Snake.

Both varieties are harmless but they can grow up to six feet long.

Mr Henshaw, who deals with the majority of escaped snakes found in Bolton, said: "It is probably still in someone's loft at the moment living in a pipe or in the wall cavity but if it can get outside it will do.

"All snakes enjoy basking in the sun. They do it to warm their bodies and get them going.

"Over the next few months I think we will start to see a lot of sightings of snakes that have escaped during the winter months because they will all be going outside to sit in the sun."

Mr Henshaw said the snake will be feeding on mice, rats and insects and will be living quite happily in its terraced home.

Anyone who spots it should put a box or bucket over it and contact the police or Bolton Museum who both have experts to deal with it.

A garter snake which escaped from its tank in Ruskin Road, Little Lever, last week has still not been found.

Despite an appeal in the BEN, the small, grey-coloured snake is still missing and fears for its safety are growing because it needs access to water to survive.

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