One British bloke said he was walking through Mount Edgcumbe, Cornwall, on Easter Monday when an adder became “angry and defensive”.

It comes as police in Scotland put out a warning after a spate of sightings, and vets in Wales told pet owners to stay vigilant.

Rich from Torpoint, Cornwall, who made the Edgcumbe sighting, issued his warning to parents.

He told Plymouth Live: “Almost walked on this whilst wearing flip flops walking along a dusty path through some woods at Mount Edgcumbe country park yesterday.

“Went defensive and angry as I took a picture (from over 2m away) before slithering off in to the woods.

“Lots of children running through the woods and leaves so maybe a good idea for parents to keep an eye on them more as an adder didn’t even cross my mind before seeing this.

And the Wildlife Trust say youngsters, the elderly and people with illness need to be careful.

It said: “The shy adder can be spotted basking in the sunshine in woodland glades and on heathlands. 

“An adder bite is a very rare occurrence, and can be painful, but is almost never fatal

“The adder is the UK’s only venomous snake, but its poison is generally of little danger to humans: an adder bite can be very painful and cause a nasty inflammation, but is really only dangerous to the very young, ill or old.

“If bitten, medical attention should be sought immediately, however.

“Adders are secretive animals and prefer to slither off into the undergrowth than confront and bite humans and domestic animals; most attacks happen when they are trodden on or picked up. 

“Instead, they use their venom to immobilise and kill their prey of small mammals, nestlings and lizards.”

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