A PRESTWICH woman has praised the actions of the police after a 4ft long snake "terrorised" neighbours on a quiet Saturday afternoon.

Although the slippery character was discovered to be a harmless corn snake, believed to be an escaped pet, families on Fort Road, Sedgley Park, were shocked to come face to face with it in their homes.

One resident, who refused to be named, said that she found the snake lying on the ledge of her bath just before noon on Saturday.

By the time she went to get her husband the snake had disappeared, leaving the couple terrified and wondering where it had gone.

Two hours later the reptile, which was so slim that it could have slipped through the plug hole, resurfaced next door.

The neighbour, who also declined to be named, said: "The lady next door came to tell us about the snake and they were petrified. We called the police and the RSPCA who were very prompt but they couldn't find anything."

She added: "Later my husband came home and took our grandson outside to the fish pond in the back garden. They often go and feed the fish but I could tell something was wrong when they came back inside and told me to close the door." The frightened woman said her husband had noticed the snake coiled up near the corner of the fish pond and they contacted the police again.

"They were absolutely brilliant with us and very patient. I cannot thank them and praise them enough, especially PC Andy Hall. They must have thought it was a joke at first but when they realised we were serious and all frightened they came round straight away," she enthused.

Detective Sergeant Duncan Heywood of Bury's Operational Police Unit said the police were regularly expected to deal with a diverse selection of incidents involving "slippery customers."

He said: "I am sure PC Hall was not too keen on tracking this particular escapee. Fortunately, it is not an every day occurrence and the snake did come quietly once cornered."