Hiss-teria over snake video

What is this slippery customer which was spotted wriggling across a road in Shropshire?

The snake, about 3ft long, with a slender body, grey/green markings and a yellowish ring round its neck, has caused something of a stir.

It can be seen slithering along the carriageway and crossing the central white line.

Users of the community website forum www.Telford-Live.com have been surprised and amused such a large snake has been spotted.

The person who filmed it, identified only as jumpinjackjones, saw it up the road from the Wren's Nest pub in Ketley, Telford, emerging from a field where a couple of ponies are kept.

He says: "It was slithering across the road towards the residential area so I corralled it back to where it came from. It moved a lot quicker in the undergrowth."

Rob Breeze, a forum member, believes it is a common grass snake.

"The white/yellow collar round the neck is the giveaway," he said.

Grass snakes, which can grow up to 6ft long, can give a painful bite, but are not poisonous.