FIREFIGHTERS found themselves dealing with a a slippery customer when they spotted a snake while responding to a small woodland fire.

After extinguishing a small fire in the woods off Burn Lane, Newton Aycliffe, they spotted a snake in a tree.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service watch manager Dean Kennedy said: "We were called to the fire at about 5pm on Sunday and were on our way back when one of my colleagues noticed something hidden in the tree just off the path.

"We weren't sure what it was at first, but knew it didn't belong there. It was bright orange and stood out. We took a picture for the RSPCA and did a bit of investigating ourselves and came to the conclusion it was a corn snake.

“It started to move away. We were worried for its welfare and stopped it escaping.

"We let it slither into a canvas bucket that we use to carry water to tackle little fires, before closing it up and taking it back to the fire station.”

The RSPCA met the firefighters and took the snake, which was about a metre in length into their care. It is believed to have escaped from its cage.