May 15, 2018 4.08 pm This story is over 73 months old

Sly customer gives salon staff the slip

He only wanted a short back and sides.

The owner was so frightened she shut up the salon.

A Lincolnshire salon has an unexpected visit from a slippery visitor this week, giving lunchtime staff and customers quite a fright.

RSPCA inspector Sara Jordan was called to the rescue when a sneaky grass snake popped in to the hairdresser’s on High Street, in Epworth on Saturday.

Inspector Jordan said: “The snake was fairly shy and didn’t want to come out from behind a dresser.

“The woman who owns the salon was so scared she ran out of the shop and locked it up.

“She refused to go back inside until the snake was safely secured!

He sent the owner into a hissy.

“She wouldn’t even come in with me and decided to wait outside on the other side of the road – she was really petrified so she must have had quite the fright when they first spotted the slithery customer.

“Perhaps he just wanted a short back and sides – or a cheeky shampoo and set!”

The bold grass snake was confined before RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre gave advice on where to release him.

He was driven to a nearby field to be set free.

“The snake took one look at me and decided to make a slither for it,” Sara added. “But I was able to catch him and check him over before releasing him in a field nearby – a much better home for a grass snake that in a hair salon!”

Grass snakes are harmless to humans and pets, are normally olive green or brown in colour with black bars or spots down the side, often with a yellow and black ‘collar’ which is usually visible behind the head.

Occasionally they can be very dark or completely black.

They are the largest British snake and can grow up to 100cm although more commonly measure around 70-90cm.

They are protected from being intentionally killed or injured under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.