Toilet snake ssssendsSandy round the bend

Sandy Wilson (54), from Lochlea Road found the slithering serpent when he strolled into his bathroom after getting up on Wednesday morning.

Bleary-eyed and half awake, Sandy noticed a deodorant can had fallen over amongst his toiletries and he reached over to pick it up.

However, as his eyes followed his hands to the can, his stare was met by the piercing, red-eyed gaze of a snake staring back at him.

Sandy said: “I got the fright of my life! In fact, frightened is not even the word to describe it.

“I walked into my bathroom after getting up and saw that a paint brush and the sink plug, which I’d leaned up against the wall the night before, were lying in the sink.

“But I was still half asleep, so I thought nothing of it.

“Then as I was at the toilet, I looked over and saw one of my spray cans had fallen over and as I went to pick it up I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I had to take a second glance.

“There was this white snake, with red eyes, sitting in among my toiletries. It moved further away from me when it saw me and I just got straight out of there!” Sandy left the room and kept his pet dog, Rambo, closed off in another room in the house as he called the police.

Sandy added: “The cops told me to get a bucket or something, put some holes in it and have it ready for them coming to put the snake in.

“Only one of the policemen came in though, the other one was too frightened!”

Inspector Stevie Hazlett from Cumbernauld police said: “The officers who attended were somewhat sceptical when they received the call being unsure if it was a hoax. I think they were as surprised as Mr Wilson when they entered the bathroom and saw it was a real snake. However in the finest traditions of the police they brought the slippery character into custody and ensured any ‘hissteria’ was prevented.

“Indeed one of the officers has decided that if the snake is unclaimed he will look after it himself.”

The reptile is a corn snake and it is possibly a pet that has escaped. Scottish SPCA Chief Inspector Fiona Greig said: “Corn snakes are harmless abnd are often kept as pets. They tend to hide in warm places such as boiler cupboards or near a radiator as they like the heat.”

“If anyone recognises this snake they should call our helpline on 03000 999 999.”