The owner of an escaped 10ft python called Zombie who has been frantically hunting for the pet since it went missing on Friday, thought his worries were over last night.

Chris Cini of Larkfield said: "The RSPCA called me at 2am and said Zombie had been spotted near the park and there was a member of the public watching over her.

"I got there in two minutes to find a silk scarf flapping in the breeze and a woman completely certain it was a snake."

The disappointment means there has been no sign of Zombie since he was photographed slithering past the Larkfield Surgery in Chaucer Way on the Poet's Estate on Friday.

A picture of the constrictor, who is a female Coastal Carpet Python, has been posted on social media and shared hundreds of times and scores of friends have joined Mr Cini in a so-far fruitless search of the undergrowth.

Mr Cini said: "It's like looking for a green needle in a green haystack, but there are so many people out looking. It's half of Maidstone.

"There are people I don't know, friends, young people, old people, women, children - it's lovely really."

Zombie - so called because of her heavy breathing - is one of nine snakes he keeps at his home in Fielding Drive and she possibly escaped by sneaking through a conservatory door into the garden.

Mr Cini said: "She's 11 years old and she's no danger to anyone as she is used to living with me and used to being around humans. However, I would still advise people to be cautious if they find her."

"The trouble is the undergrowth around Tesco and nearby is really long and hasn't been trimmed. It's about six ft. That's bad news for those searching for her, but good news for Zombie - she will love that and be in heaven."

Mr Cini's wife, Tracy, who he married in a Zombie-themed ceremony at the Archbishop's Palace in 2011, reported the snake missing on Friday and the couple sprang into action.

Revealing more about life with his pet Mr Cini said of Zombie: "She likes eating rabbits and big rats and I buy these for her.

"She will often sit on me and if she's in the garden she will sit near me and be very protective."

Mr Cini and a smaller group of friends are continuing to search this morning.

Passers-by were earlier shocked to see the scaled visitor.

Zombie is around nine-and-a-half ft long.

A Kent Police spokesman said a member of the public called just after midday to report a snake in the grass in Chaucer Way.

Last week KentOnline reported a six-foot python had gone missing from a Maidstone property.

The snake has not been found.

Sarah Bick, who posted the picture on Facebook, said: "Large snake seen passing Larkfield drs Surgery. Please share and be careful. Don't know where it is now!! Could be a pet no one knows at this point!"

y A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "Our advice for anyone who spots a stray exotic (non-native) snake is to keep a safe distance, monitor the animal and call the RSPCA’s Cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.

"Never try to pick up a snake, unless absolutely certain that it has been correctly identified and that it is not venomous."

A Tonbridge and Malling council spokesman added: "We understand the RSPCA has been alerted and that this is the right procedure for this sort of issue."

Have you seen the snake? Send your pictures to messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk