THE snake which terrorised a startled teenager when he discovered it behind a chest of drawers might not have been the only one on the loose.

Last week we reported how 18-year-old Jack Parker, of Meadoway, was stunned when he woke up to find a small black snake hidden behind a chest of drawers.

His dad Michael McKenna, 47, said a neighbour who lived above the family had raised snakes and at one time there may have been up to five snakes living in the house.

The neighbour moved more than a year ago but his pets are apparently still slithering around, as Jack found out.

Michael said: "I’m not sure how many he had but obviously this is one that could have been left. We don’t know for sure that it is his snake though."

The snake was taken to an RSPCA centre in Bolton last Wednesday.

And widespread panic has not broken out in Church as residents believe the discovery of the slippery creature is a one-off.

Fellow Meadoway resident Cheryl Corless, 36, said: "I don’t think there have been others but I am glad it wasn’t me or any of my kids that found it."

Philip Harris, a friend of Michael’s, said: "I know their former neighbour kept snakes and was a bit of a collector, but I don’t think there have been any others found. He moved away some time ago now so Jack and Michael were really surprised to find the one but I don’t think there any others."

And Church Ccouncillor John Broadley said he has had no reports of residents fearful of snakes in their homes.

He added: "I really think it was a one time thing."