Brit's midnight panic as he makes terrifying discovery during bathroom visit

A man had the fright of his life when he found a huge snake in his bathroom while he went to the toilet in the middle of the night. The snake had escaped from his neighbour's home in Gateshead and was found hiding in the soil pipe boxing on Tuesday, August 12.

Pictures show the reptile wrapped around a pipe in the bathroom. It had managed to squeeze through a tiny gap before reaching the neighbouring home. After discovering the snake, the man called pest controllers who were able to safely rescue the intruder and return it to its rightful owner.

Jack Edwards, of Invicta Environmental Ltd, said: "Snakes are uncommon in the UK, but when they escape from captivity they can be difficult to catch, because they love hiding in tight spaces.

"Fortunately, our client called us in early and we were able to remove the snake and return it to its owner. While we're not known for our snake catching, we're always ready to help out."

People are advised to always keep a safe distance if they discover a snake in their home. Experts from Invicta say you should always contact professionals who are able to handle the situation properly rather than trying to rescue escaped reptiles by yourself.

Meanwhile, reptile owners are urged to keep their enclosures secure. Snakes are able to find their way through the smallest of gaps so it's important to make sure they are completely secure.

On August 10, a mother was shocked after a live snake fell out of her daughter's toy box in Liverpool. Jennifer Baker, 30, was celebrating her daughter's birthday when the reptile tumbled from the box.

She said: "I did what I needed to do then later I went to pick the box up and a snake fell out of it. I shouted to the kids, I have two boys, 'whose is this?' I thought it was a toy snake but I didn't recognise it as being either of theirs.

"I was staring at this snake and then all of a sudden its tongue started moving. I started screaming 'it's real, it's a real snake'. My mum came running into the kitchen.

"It was trying to wrap itself around my arm as we were trying to get it back into the empty cardboard box. We finally got it into the box."