River Thames: RSPCA capture boa constrictor near Barnes Bridge

Police officers were called in to deal with a slithery customer in Birmingham yesterday – in the shape of a massive boa constrictor.

Officers had been driving along on patrol when they spotted the huge snake making its way across the street on Park Lane, in Aston.

Pictures show how at least three officers bravely ushered the reptile into a pillow case with the help of a broom at the side of the road.

The reptile was taken to a local reptile shop where it was checked over and found to be uninjured.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “We often have to deal with the odd slippery customer, but officers got an off-the-scale shock when they encountered a boa constrictor in the middle of a busy Birmingham road.

“Officers from our operational support unit were driving down Park Lane yesterday afternoon when they spotted the large snake moving across the road.

“But they soon had the situation in the bag as they gently manoeuvred the creature into a pillowcase before taking it for checks at a local reptile centre.

“Staff at Birmingham Reptiles confirmed that the common boa constrictor had come to no harm and they’ll be looking after it until its owner claims it or it’s rehomed.”

Birmingham Reptiles, in Slade Road, Erdington, describes itself as “A Reptile’s Favourite Place”, offers boarding services to snakes, tarantulas, lizards and tortoises, as well as other unusual pets.

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Boa constrictors, which are non-venomous and which kill prey by crushing them, are native to South America and generally measure 10ft (3m) as adults, although females can grow to 14 feet.

Some can weigh in excess of 100lbs, although this unusual.

They live for between 20 and 30 years, although there are rare accounts of them getting to the age of 40.

The world’s largest constrictor species is the green anaconda, which can reach lengths of up to 20 feet (six metres).

A survey published by UKPetFood last year indicated that roughly one percent of the UK population owns a snake.

Snakes account for about half a million British pets.

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