A GARDENER was stunned to find a 17ft snake slithering through his allotment.

At first Ronnie Kenyon mistook the reptile for a branch - until it turned its head towards him.

He said: “I grabbed hold of it so I could throw it in the river but it didn’t feel like a branch.

“I followed the length of it and I thought it was dead but then it moved its head.

“I thought someone had put it there as a joke.

“I couldn’t believe it. I had some hay delivered and I put some chicken mesh around it because I have baby ducks and chicks running around in the allotment.

“I have never seen a snake as big as that. It was the length of a car.”

Mr Kenyon, who has 800ft allotment behind his home where he keeps more than 100 animals, discovered the 17-foot long Python under a cart.

He feared the snake would eat some of his 60 chickens, seven goats, 28 ducks, 10 geese, five turkeys, eight rabbits, 10 pigeons, baby ducks and chicks and cats.

So, before calling the RSPCA, the quick thinking retired signmaker of Wensley Road, Blackburn, used a bale of hey and a chicken mesh to create a pen to hold the snake.

Mr Kenyon, 58, who made the discovery around 4.30pm yesterday, said: “The snake has either escaped or it is somebody’s who can’t manage it anymore and left it here because it got too big.

“People know that I look after a lot of animals and maybe some thought I could look after it but I don’t know anything about snakes.

“I would look after it if I could. I feel sorry for it and I will keep track of it. I hope it goes to a good home.”

Sgt Graham Brownsmith, who handled the snake after advice from the RSPCA, said: “This is the largest snake I have had to deal with.

"I certainly would not advise anybody to approach a snake.

"If they see one they should contact the police or the RSPCA.

“We only handled the snake after we received expert advice.

"The snake has been docile from the cold weather but perked up at the vet’s practice.”

The snake was taken to Town and Country Vets, King Street, Blackburn, by police officers last night and was collected by RSPCA officers today.