All of the locations where venomous snakes have been spotted in County Durham have been revealed - as we dig out images of sightings from the archives. 

Over the years, there have been select few sightings of adders, and even people being injured by the snakes across the region. 

According to data, over 15 sightings have been recorded since 2022 of adders, including in County Durham and North Yorkshire. 

Here are some of the sightings we have documented: 

Cod Beck Reservoir in North Yorkshire

The Northern Echo:

In 2022, a video was captured of the moment a venomous snake was seen basking in the sun near a reservoir in North Yorkshire.

At the time, a passer-by captured the intense moment in a video after they stumbled across the reptile at Cod Beck reservoir near Osmotherly. 

In the video, it shows an Adder snake near the edge of the reservoir during a hot day earlier this week.

Frosterley, County Durham

The Northern Echo:

Last year, an adder was spotted in Frosterley,  which saw a walker see an adder in grassland.

The person who spotted the snake wished to remain anonymous, shared the images with The Northern Echo and expressed their shock at seeing an adder close to the village.

In the close-up images, the snake can be seen rearing its head towards the camera, while another image with the adder curled round on itself can also be seen.

Edmunbuyers

The Northern Echo:

The sighting, which took place at Pow Hill Country Park in Edmundbyers, near Consett, in September 2023, saw a walker see an adder and catch a glimpse of a second one. 

The person who spotted it, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were 'shocked' at seeing the snake' and revealed that they had heard about adders in the country park, but had never seen one up until that point. 

How many adders have been spotted?

At least 15 adders have been spotted in the region, which are documented by the map below: 

How poisonous are adders?

Adders are famous for being the UK's only venomous snake but while the bite can be painful and cause inflammation, there is generally very little danger to humans.

The bite can be very dangerous to very young, ill or old people.

Medical attention should be sought immediately if conditions worsen.

What you should do if you're bitten by an adder?

According to the NHS website, those who have been bitten by an adder should remain calm as most snake bites in the UK are not serious.

They should then keep the affected part of the body still and lie in the recovery position before taking paracetamol for the pain.

Remembering the colour pattern of the snake is also advisable so the doctor can treat the bite better.

Victims of snake bites should also remove any jewellery and loosen the clothes around the bite in case of swelling.

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It is advised that they stay away from the snake, avoid sucking the poison out of the bite and completely avoid the use of aspirin or ibuprofen as these may make the bleeding worse.

If you or someone you know has been bitten by a snake you should call 999 or visit A&E immediately.

What should you do if your dog is bitten by an adder?

According to the experts are Kennel Store, dog owners should remain calm to help their dogs.

They should then try and remember what the snake looks like or take a photograph of it, so the bite can be treated more effectively.

Owners should keep their dog as still as possible to prevent the venom from spreading and avoid touching the bite (even if applying bandages or dressing).

You should then call your vet to inform them of the situation before bringing them to it.