A tense stand-off between a grass snake and a moorhen was caught on camera in spectacular fashion.

While enjoying a hot and sunny day at Riverside Country Park amateur photographer Paul Fouracre from Walderslade came across the pair.

They appeared to be having a serious dispute about territorial rights, although luckily for the feathered foe, grass snakes are not poisonous, and it was eventually sent packing.

Mr Fouracre said: “I watched for about 15 minutes as these two had a little stand-off before the snake slipped off into the reeds. The bird was pecking him and chasing him round the pond.

“I can’t wait to go back again.”

While the hen could clearly look after itself against the harmless grass snake a woman whose dog was bitten by an venomous adder has been left disappointed with the council’s lack of action.

Kellie Lewton called for people to be vigilant for themselves, their pets and their children last month after she went walking in Riverside Country Park, Gillingham, with her black labrador Alfie.

Mrs Lewton, 43, did not immediately notice the reptile sunning itself on the path in front until 14-year-old Alfie approached it and the adder bit into the side of his face.

Mrs Lewton, from Rainham, said: “His whole face swelled to twice the size, he was panting, salivating and clearly in a lot of pain. It was awful. He had to have 18 hours of fluids, morphine and anti-venom, at a cost of £1,050.”

A Medway Council officer called Mrs Lewton after the initial Medway Messenger article.

She said: “He asked if there was anything that they could do to help and I suggested that signs warning there are adders might help. I was told they didn’t want to put signs up as it would deter people from visiting the park. He said adders are a rare and protected species and by letting people know where they are people may kill them or catch them.

“It seems the council is more interested in protecting a venomous snake than the people in the community they are paid to serve.” - Kellie Lewton

“He also stated if they were to put up signs warning people of the dangers of these snakes they would end up putting up signs warning people of bees and wasps too.

“It seems the council is more interested in protecting a venomous snake than the people in the community they are paid to serve. I don’t want the adders culled or harmed, all I want is a sign.”

Most adder bites in humans occur because people do not recognise an adder and try to pick it up. There is an argument that if people were informed, these incidents would be less frequent.