A 2ft adder has bitten the arm of chat show host Paul O’Grady at his Kent farm.

Mr O’Grady was moving logs for the fire at his farm in Aldington, near Ashford, when he disturbed a snake.

It bit him on the right arm drawing blood and causing two puncture marks. He swept the snake away with a broom.

The 53-year-old Liverpudlian phoned the hospital where staff told him the adder’s venom held little risk and he did not need medical attention.

O’Grady, who was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honors list this year, has often praised staff at the William Harvey for saving his life when, in July 2006, he suffered a heart attack.

Factfile:

• Adders (vipera berus) is the only poisonous snake native to Britain;

• Adders have the most highly developed poison-injecting mechanism of all snakes, but they are not aggressive animals. They only bite as a last resort, usually if caught or trodden on;

• No one has died from an adder bite in Britain for over 20 years;

• With proper treatment, the worst effects are nausea and drowsiness, followed by severe swelling and bruising in the area of the bite.

Writing on his blog, Lee Brady, chairman of the Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group (KRAG) volunteered to visit O’Grady’s home to look for the snake.

The local expert said: "Whilst I can fully understand Paul’s reaction of sweeping the snake from his home (apparently unhurt I must stress), I do fear for the poor animal’s welfare.

"The adder was obviously in hibernation and is now likely to suffer during this bout of very cold weather."

According to KRAG, adders are found across Kent and have a close association with the calciferous grassland of the county.

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