1.5 ft-long grass snake greets Berrow resident in his garden

But one Berrow resident got a shock when he ventured into his garden... A 1.5 ft-long grass snake was waiting to greet him!

Somerset Camera Club member Alex Larkin was shocked when he opened his conservatory door to find the reptile enjoying the sunshine.

"I saw it briefly twice (if it's the same one) last year," said Alex. "Once in a compost heap and once going under a plant pot underneath a bird feeder, where I always see a mouse, so on the hunt I presume.

"He's about 1.5ft long, so he's eating okay."

The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust says grass snakes are entirely harmless and it is illegal to kill, injure or sell them.

They are very timid and will usually disappear quickly if disturbed.

It is fairly common to see grass snakes between March and April, as this is when they awake from hibernation.

Common places to find them are in compost heaps and around ponds and sources of water, as they are very good swimmers.