Police were faced with a slippery suspect when they received a call about an unusual escapee in Sunbury, south-west London.

PCs Sandra King and Mark Blanchard were called to Ashton Lodge Nursing Home after a 3ft snake was spotted in the car park.

The tan coloured corn snake - thought to be an escaped pet - had been seen slipping under a parked car outside the nursing home, in Spelthorne Grove, about 3pm on June 17.

The RSPCA were called, but before they arrived, snake owner PC King had the reptile under control and safely stowed in a plastic container.

"Corn snakes are extremely good escape artists that can get out of the tiniest of gaps, but they don't usually roam too far from home, so someone in the Sunbury Cross area will be missing a much loved pet," said PC King, the owner of a three-foot long king snake.

"This snake was used to being handled and was very friendly.

"It was a little cold from being outside and tried to get up my shirt sleeve and inside my stab vest probably to warm up a bit.

"Some of the residents and staff at the home had never seen a snake this close up before and took the opportunity to give it a stroke, they seemed pleasantly surprised that it was smooth and soft and not at all slimy like they expected."

The corn snake has been handed over to the RSPCA.