Imagine going to collect some washing from the machine and instead discovering a potentially venomous snake hiding amongst your towels.

That was the reality for a Folkestone mum who got the shock of her life when she found a four foot snake.

The potentially dangerous reptile then slithered away and has not been seen for several days.

Residents are now being warned to keep their doors and windows shut.

Elena Marariu, who lives with her partner Tony Reed and three-year-old son, in Guildhall Street North was going to sort the washing on Friday when she was confronted with the creature.

They are now trying to track down the owners of the shiny black snake, which has been called Sid.

The couple are hoping to catch it with the help of snake experts from Dover who have laid down snares including heat lamps and dead mice and even raw chicken breasts on the ground.

"It's been a really traumatic period and we’ve still not found it. It’s not a nice feeling" - Tony Reed

It is not known what species it is, whether it is venomous or even if it is still in the house as the hot weather could have enticed it back outside.

Residents say they have been left concerned about a lack of action from the police and the authorities in trying to track down the animal.

Mr Reed said: “If it had been a rottweiler, two cars would have come.

“The main thing I want to get across is there’s nothing here to help and they won’t come here and they’ve basically said move out and leave and that’s not good really.

“They help with bees and dangerous dogs but not with snakes.”

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "The caller was advised to contact the local authority for advice as it holds a register of wild animals kept as pets in the area.

"Kent Police will also advise callers to contact the RSPCA or local experts where a there is a concern regarding a wild animal."

Mr Reed says he is now trying to get on with a normal daily life but his partner is still nervous.

“She’s been left petrified but it means I’ve got to do the washing if you want to make light of it. She’s living in half the house we’ve had two sleepless nights looking at the screen.”

Guildhall Residents Association chairman Steve Dennis, who lives behind Mr Reed and Ms Marariu, echoed the couple’s fears.

He raised concerns that authorities had not been interested in dealing with the possible risk to the public, saying: “It’s animal welfare and public safety that I wanted to impress on the police.

“SDC has been fairly helpful and they’ve got the community safety unit. They have verified that no one in Shepway is licensed to keep dangerous animals.

“But that doesn’t really help because people can keep things without a licence. It doesn’t reassure us.

“The snake experts have been very good and were put on to us by the RSPCA.

"We’ve got a basement where the washing machine is. Elena went to pick up the washing and got the shock of her life with it sitting there with the washing" - Tony Reed

“It’s very difficult because in this weather the children want to go outside. They are only young so we don’t want to tell them a snake is about.

“If I came across it I’d move away quickly but a child might not realise what it was and that’s the most worrying thing.”

Mr Reed added: “It’s been a really traumatic period and we’ve still not found it. It’s not a nice feeling. A little one is ok but not a great big one.

“We’ve got a basement where the washing machine is. Elena went to pick up the washing and got the shock of her life with it sitting there with the washing.

“She texted me because I was upstairs with a visitor and with the predictive text I couldn’t believe it and thought it was a mistake.

“I went down and she was massively hysterical.”

Wanting proof for his own eyes, Mr Reed set up a baby monitor camera to a screen upstairs and at about 11pm that night the snake appeared again.

“It came up from this hole and we’re taking about three or four feet long,” he added.

“I didn’t really know what to do and called the police and they didn’t want to know and that was really disconcerting.

“We’ve just moved from Norway and had to go through every box. It’s made it have more places to hide but it’s definitely not come with us because was too cold when we left.

"Even the experts were nervous looking through the boxes cause we don't know what it is.

“It doesn’t look like a normal adder or a slow worm.”

He said a positive would be for someone to come forward and claim the snake or to reassure them it is theirs and not venomous.

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "We were called about a snake at a property in Folkestone, but were told by the caller that an expert had been called and was present at the property, so we were no longer needed for assistance.

"At this time of year we do see a rise in the number of calls about reptiles after they are found out and about.

"Sometimes it is because they have been dumped. Other times they are escaped pets.

"When the weather warms up reptiles do become more active so can be much quicker than people realise.

"We would urge members of the public that keep these pets to keep them secure if taking them outside for access to natural sunlight.

"We recommend that if anyone finds any snake in unusual circumstances they suspect to be dangerous, they should keep at a safe distance and call the police who will be able to contact the relevant organisation."

Anyone with any information about the snake or if you or anyone you know has a snake reported missing can contact Mr Reed on tony@norwaydirect.com or let us know by calling 01233 623232.