A MILKMAN had a nasty shock on his early morning round when he discovered a three-foot snake.

The appropriately-named Milk-snake which is red with black and white stripes was found by dairyman David Pollard, curled up on the doorstep of a house in Harwood Road, Rishton, when he was on his early-morning rounds.

Mr Pollard, of Blackburn Road, Great Harwood, said: "When I approached the door and saw the snake I just thought that it couldn't be a real one - until it moved. It didn't look venemous but I wasn't too sure so myself and my son, Thomas, kept our distance.

"It is the most unusual discovery I have made on my rounds and it certainly woke me up, however, we both stayed calm and it was lucky that there was a police car passing which I flagged down."

PC Gary Brown, of Great Harwood Police, knocked on the door of the house to see if the snake belonged to the owners Lorna and Dennis Bentley.

Mr Bentley, 52, who works for Altham Car Dismantlers in Great Harwood, said: "My son Christopher first saw the snake about six weeks ago while walking the dog, but we hadn't seen it since - until this morning when a policeman knocked on the door."

This week it was revealed that the snake had been kept as a pet in a neighbouring house and has been called Sid.

Following his discovery, Sid, who had been trying to devour a bird whole, was covered with a box to stop him escaping until just after 8am, when the RSPCA's Animal Collection Officer, Jimmy Ratcliffe arrived at the house and carefully took the snake away.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: "Milk snakes are quite common and are nothing to be afraid of, but they can cause quite a shock when you unexpectedly discover one on your doorstep."

Seven-month-old Sid is now settling into his temporary new home in Bury, where he is being well looked after.