A Congleton woman was in for quite a shock when she went to rearrange some of her cushions on a sofa and found a foot-long snake curled up on the seat.

Lesley Tomkinson was about to sit on the sofa in her home in Clayton Avenue, Congleton on Tuesday evening (16 June) but instead took a step backwards when she saw a young orange corn snake relaxing there instead.

Lesley and her partner Malcolm Jones called the RSPCA to collect the snake and have no idea where it came from or how it slithered into their home.

She said: "I was just fluffing up the cushions so I could relax and then spotted the snake. I screamed like a girl - it was more from the shock than anything else.

"I mean, it isn't usual to find a snake sitting on your sofa!

"Then I realised it was a young cornsnake and as it was so small I was quite relaxed.

"My partner is scared of snakes but because we knew it wasn't venomous he carefully picked it up and we put it in a plastic box with ventilation holes to keep it safe until the RSPCA came to collect it

"We have had the door open with it being warm so I suppose it could have made its way in through there but what is strange is we have two dogs Jasper, a German Shepherd, and Logan, a lurcher, who normally sit on the settee and they didn't spot it so I guess it had not been there long. At least the snake found somewhere warm and comfortable to sit until it was found.

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"I have put an appeal on local social media sites to see if I can find the owner and also asked around neighbours in the area but no-one knows who the snake belonged to."

The RSPCA would always recommend that anyone who sees a stray exotic snake - to keep a safe distance, call our helpline on 0300 1234 999 and monitor the animal until we can get there.

RSPCA Animal Welfare Officer (AWO) Katie Glenn was sent to collect the snake which appeared in good health and is now in the care of a specialist reptile keeper.

She said: "It must have been quite a shock to Lesley to find a snake curled up on her sofa.

"I have rescued snakes from unusual places - including down drains, sticking out of a wall and one of my colleagues had to rescue one from a cooker - but this is the first time I have been called to one relaxing on a sofa!"

Many of the snakes the RSPCA's officers are called to collect are thought to be escaped pets.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: "We would always recommend owners invest in an enclosure suitable for the particular species and that the enclosure is kept secure (and locked if necessary) when unattended.

"Reptiles, particularly snakes, can be extremely good escape artists and will take the opportunity of a gap in an enclosure door, or a loose-fitting lid."

But it is not unusual for the RSPCA to be called to collect snakes that appear to have been abandoned.

The spokesperson added: "We believe people are unaware of how much of a commitment these animals are, and people struggle to cope so abandon them."

The RSPCA urges prospective owners of reptiles to thoroughly research the needs of the particular species and what is required in the care of the animal, using expert sources, and only consider keeping one if they can ensure they are fully able to provide for these needs. For more information about the care of exotic pets please visit the RSPCA website.

To help the RSPCA keep helping animal, and to keep animal hospitals and centres running for emergency treatment, and round the clock care through these unprecedented times, you can donate on their website.