Snake that showed up in toilet doing 'really well'

Geraldine the snake is doing "really well"

A python had to be rescued from a toilet in a sheltered housing unit.

Swindon Borough Council said it had to remove the snake after it showed up in a toilet at George Selman Gardens in Swindon on the night of 21 February.

Two council administrators Oliver Ayre and James Price had to swap their usual day jobs to remove the python and re-home it with pet shop Cold-Blooded Creatures.

Shannon Furey, owner of Cold-Blooded Creatures said: "I am really happy to say she is doing really well, eating so well, and has a fantastic nature, [an] absolutely stunning snake."

Council administrators had to rescue a snake from a toilet

The council said they received a call from a sheltered housing manager, saying there was a snake in the guest toilet.

Mr Ayre and Mr Price offered to try and catch it but it took all night to entice it out of the bathroom.

"The team tried every vet and reptile shop they could find as well as RSPCA and it turns out no one accepts stray snakes out of hours," the council said.

Eventually they found a home for the snake with Ms Furey.

"They nicknamed her Gerald, but when I looked she seems to be a Geraldine," Ms Furey said.

Ms Furey added that she will keep Geraldine, rather than sell her to a new owner.

"Just due to her being exposed to bleach and she was very skinny, I am going to be keeping her in the shop.

"That way I know for sure that she will get the correct treatment and care going forward," she said.