A KENT Messenger Group newspaper has been thanked for helping re-unite a snake with its grateful owner.

Last week the Sheerness Times Guardian reported that Kelly Cuthbert, 31, of Imperial Drive, Warden, near Eastchurch, had found a 4ft long snake in her kitchen cupboard.

The newspaper appealed for the creature’s owner to come forward and were amazed to receive three phone calls.

One came from Donna Butler, 27, also of Imperial Drive, who was so convinced it was the snake she had lost four months ago.

She drove immediately to Hastings, where it was in the safe keeping of an exotic animals expert used by the RSPCA which originally took it away.

Donna said: "It is fantastic to have her back and I can’t thank the Sheerness Times Guardian enough and the expert in Hastings for looking after her. I took a photograph of her down with me to prove it was ours.

"When we picked her up it was my partner George’s 32nd birthday. She slithered on to him straight away because snakes recognise scent. She also gave him a big kiss. We call her Pasha because she is so passionate.

"She escaped by pushing up an air vent in her container and then she must have slithered under the floorboards to where she was found which is only about five terraced houses away."

Klare Kennett, from the RSPCA, said: "Snakes are notorious for escaping so it is really important that owners ensure their pet is safe and secure.

"We are lucky that this owner was reunited because so many others are not so fortunate."