A five-and-a-half foot long snake that had been reported missing from a home in Oswestry has been found safe and well — under his owner’s bed.

Rollo, a non-venomous Californian Kingsnake, went missing from Neil Curley’s home in Swan Lane on Monday morning.

Mr Curley, 25, reported the missing snake to a vet and to the police after discovering that Rollo had escaped from his tank.

After searching his house high and low and asking neighbours to keep an eye out for the snake, he found Rollo tucked up safe and well under his bed on Monday evening.

Mr Curley said: “I was really worried about him because without his heat mat and heat light he would have died.

“I was worried that if he had got out somebody would have taken him away and not looked after him properly.

“It was such a relief to find him again. He had somehow got through a hole in the bed.

“A few people were pretty shocked when I told them my snake was missing but he is used to being handled and is really friendly.

“I have had him for about five months and handle him all the time. He has only ever bitten me once.”

He said: “I think a few people would have been worried if they had heard the snake was on the loose, but he would not do anybody any harm.”