Snake terror for staff in Coventry clothes shop

Staff were terrified when they discovered a snake in a Coventry clothes shop.


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The two-foot long Mexican milk snake, which crushes its prey before devouring it whole, had slithered into Woman At Large, in Spon Street, Coventry city centre.

Staff thought it was a child’s toy but got the fright of their lives when it suddenly blinked and flicked its tongue out at them.

Terrified workers called 999 and a police community support officer was dispatched to nearby KBN Reptiles, in City Arcade, to get help.

Alison Gingell, boss of plus-size store Woman At Large, believes the snake, an escaped or unwanted pet, got in through the back door.

“We have a back door which we open when it’s hot,” she said.

“It seems that the snake came in while the door was open.

“It was lying by a radiator, half behind, half in front.

“At first they thought it was a child’s toy, but then it looked at them and flicked its tongue at them!

“I have to say they behaved commendably – they didn’t want to scare the customers so they finished dealing with them and once they had gone they all screamed!