Dead 10ft python found dumped among rubbish bags in Grimsby

The snake was found hidden among some bin bags left by a hedge

A team of street cleaners found the body of a 10ft-long (3m) python dumped in a pile of rubbish bags.

They discovered the reptile, thought to be an albino Burmese python, during their rounds in Grimsby on Monday.

Council manager John Munson said the find was a "total shock" and none of his team had "plucked up the courage to unravel" the discarded serpent.

He said the animal, which "looks huge and weighs a fair bit", was believed to have been a household pet.

Deputy street cleansing manager Mr Munson said: "Our job is full of surprises, but this was a total shock for our team.

"You don't turn up for work on a Monday morning expecting to find a massive snake dumped behind a hedge."

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The authority has said it wants to trace the owner to find out more about how the dead snake came to be left at the corner of Thorold Street and Park Street.

Councillor Ron Shepherd said: "Someone must know where it came from. We all have a legal obligation, or duty of care, to make sure our waste is disposed of correctly."

The Burmese Python is one of the world's largest snakes and can grow up to 25ft (7.6m).

It is not the first time the council street cleaning team have found a dead snake in the town.

In April 2020 a 6ft (1.8m) snake was discovered in a cardboard box in Newmarket Street.