Help! There's a snake in my kitchen
Jaime Butterfill, 24, had been in the rented Grafton Road property just three days when she walked into her kitchen and found the two-and-a-half foot American corn snake staring up at her.
The snake is believed to have either escaped from '“ or been left by '“ the animal-keeping previous tenant, who vacated the property in December, 2004.
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Hide Ad"I walked into the room and it was just there, happily looking around," said Jaime.
She was quickly joined by visiting friend Sam Redfearn and his 18-month daughter Georgia, who seemed unperturbed.
"She was not at all affected by it," said Jaime. "I was there screaming and she was fine."
Jaime phoned letting agents Jordan & Cook, who called in Billy Elliott, of the Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service (WADARS).
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Hide AdMr Elliott said the snake had probably survived by going into a state of semi-hibernation in the cold, empty flat.
He believed it had emerged only when the property had become heated again with the new tenant.
"It's not in a poor condition," said Mr Elliott. "It's cold and underweight, but, hopefully, once he's warmed up, he'll start feeling better."
The snake was then taken away to a vivarium at Northdale Veterinary Surgery '“ much to the relief of an unnamed neighbour downstairs.
"Is it gone, yet?" she asked, from a two inch gap in the door.
Miss Butterfill said the experience had not made her any fonder of snakes.
"I'll stick to cats," she said.