Clacton-on-Sea driver braves journey with snake inside his car

A driver had the most anxious car journey of his life after a snake slithered into his vehicle.

Gareth Bowen spotted the slippery customer as he returned from shopping in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, on Friday.

The 49-year-old quickly lost sight of the reptile but, needing to get to work at a pub on time, had no choice but to get behind the wheel.

“I was wearing shorts and every draught on my legs felt like a snake – it was horrible,” said Mr Bowen, who managed to get back unscathed.

He first saw the animal as he returned to his Ford Fiesta outside a Tesco supermarket in the town.

“I went to open the driver-side door and something slithered inside,” he said, admitting a commotion followed.

“Everyone was looking at me wondering what was going on. They all thought I was making it up.”

Mr Bowen is unsure how it got inside, but suggested it may have been clinging to the vehicle’s underside.

Despite efforts to tempt the snake out of the vehicle, Mr Bowen decided to face the short drive home as his shift at The Ship in Kirby-le-Soken was fast approaching.

He enlisted the help of fiancée Michelle Fowle, 37, who said: “I thought he was seeing things, so I was in disbelief when I saw it.

“It’s not something you expect to pick up while doing your shopping.”

Mr Bowen later found the 5ft (1.5m) reptile hiding in the grille of his car while on the way to work.

“When I arrived, I said to the guys ‘There’s a snake in the car’, and they all laughed,” he said.

“But when they all came and looked they could see it for themselves.”

The animal has not been conclusively identified, but is thought to be a corn snake.

After consulting the RSPCA, Mr Bowen and Ms Fowle managed to find someone locally who owned a vivarium.

They came and collected the snake, much to the couple’s relief.

Mr Bowen said it made for a much more relaxing journey home from work.

“It was a nice feeling driving home knowing it wasn’t there any more,” he added.

He hopes the owner of the snake may now come forward to claim their pet.