An outing with a friend's dog turned into a close encounter of the slithery kind for two Kent walkers.

Daphne and Ian Andrews were on the fringes of Lyminge Forest at Rhodes Minnis, near Folkestone, when they stumbled upon this pair of adders - or, more accurately, Barney the dog did.

After persuading Barney to leave the pair alone, Daphne took this picture.

She said: "They were so lovely, they put their heads up together. They weren't interested in us and we were only three yards from them."

April is the perfect time to spot the beautiful creatures, as they are fresh from hibernation and too dozy to keep out of people's way.

Kirk Alexander, of the White Cliffs Countryside Project, said: "They hibernate over winter and when it warms up enough they come out. Early spring and autumn are the best time as it's quite cool so they don't move very fast.

"They do tend to hibernate together in a hibernaculum. There can be masses together which could be a shock if you saw them all coming out."