Search for 'beautiful' boa constrictor's owner

The snake has been named Severus Snake by staff at the local RSPCA branch

The search is on for the owner of a large snake found in a field.

The 1.8m (6ft) boa constrictor was found in Shipdham, near Dereham in Norfolk on Monday.

The RSPCA described him as a "beautiful boy" and said he weighed about 7kg (about 15lb).

They have named him Severus Snake (after the Harry Potter character Prof Severus Snape) and are hoping the owner will come forward to collect him.

The serpent was found in Shipdham near Dereham in Norfolk on Monday

"The snake's not in a bad condition but it is underweight," said Andy McGreish, an animal welfare manager for the RSPCA's Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk branch.

"We can clearly see the ridge of the spine."

The RSPCA believed the snake was either an "escapee" or had been dumped.

It arrived at the centre in a plastic box after a member of the public claimed to have found it on a footpath.

"These snakes shouldn't be outside," added Chloe Shorten, head of animal welfare at the branch. "It's way too cold."

"He's certainly got a good strike on him. He's knocked me back a couple of times while taking food to him," she added.

Andy McGreish and Chloe Shorten say Severus Snake has been checked by a vet and they are trying to help build his weight

Mr McGreish said the branch had seen a recent increase in dumped animals which staff thought related to the cost of living crisis.

He worried that more exotic animals would be abandoned in future as many were expensive to maintain due to heating costs.

Severus Snake would remain at the centre for the next few days but would be rehomed if no one came forward to claim him, the RSPCA added.