IT IS usually stranded motorists who get rescued from the hard shoulder but yesterday (March 29) near the Dartford Tunnel it was the turn of a Californian King Snake.

The black and white creature was spotted in a small plastic tank at the side of the road at about 10.10am so rare animal expert Wayne May was called in.

He took the non-venemous reptile to the Highways Agency office at the Dartford Tunnel where it was photographed before being placed in his care.

At present it is not known whether it was abandoned at the roadside or left there accidentally so Mr May, who runs Artisan Rare Breeds in Farningham, will be looking after it for a week before it is rehomed.

Mr May said: “I had not had a snake call for six months and then yesterday we collected one and rehomed it and then got the Dartford Tunnel call.

“They said it was a snake and I said ‘Just leave it’ assuming it was a grass snake coming out of hibernation until a lady said it was black and white and I thought I should go and have a look.

“More than likely it has been abandoned but someone might have left it there by accident.”

He added: “If it had been left there for longer it would have died because they cannot survive in cold temperatures.”

Highways Agency staff at the tunnel have had a whip-round for the reptile with the money going towards items for its upkeep.

Anyone who thinks the snake may belong to them should contact the Highways Agency or Kent Police.