A Bonhill resident made a shocking discovery last week when she was came face-to-face with a wild snake whilst walking down a residential street.

Sharon Coyle, 42, was making her way down Hillbank Street in the Old Bonhill area of Alexandria, when she saw something moving out the corner of her eye.

The mum of two said: "I had to look twice because I wasn't sure what I had seen. I was shocked when I realised it was a snake. My immediate reaction was to run because I am petrified of snakes but then I wondered if someone had possibly lost a pet so I took some photographs of the animal."

Sharon, who currently cares for her mum full-time, showed the pictures to a friend who owns a pet snake and he suspected that the creature was in fact a wild adder, a snake which is rarely spotted by humans and possesses a dangerous bite.

Natural Heritage Scotland later confirmed that this was a UK adder and advised that approaching these animals could result in a bite.

John McKinnell, Scottish Natural Heritage’s reptile specialist, said: “It is rare to spot an adder. Sometimes they can be taken by surprise, but more usually they sense people and animals approaching and move away.

"Please don’t attempt to move an adder or to pick it up as this might lead to a bite. It will move on by itself. It is also illegal to kill or injure an adder.

Mr McKinnell also explained that the recent heatwave could be a potential reason why this snake had travelled outwith its usual perimeters, he continued: “Bonhill is surrounded by rough ground and heathery hill ground which is suitable habitat for reptiles like adders and lizards.

"Adders are “cold-blooded”, absorbing the surrounding temperature. In this hot weather they can be more active and travel further from their usual haunts. But we wouldn’t expect adders to move off the hill in search of water.