A dog walker in Dartford had an unlikely surprise while at Brooklands Lake yesterday after being confronted with what appeared to be a grass snake.

Jean Jarvis, who frequents the lakes, said she was surprised to see the reptile after she bent down to tie her shoelace while on a stroll.

She posted the photo of the creature, which was discreetly camouflaged in the grass, on Facebook group Dartford Living Community Group.

Commenters joked: "That's a big shoelace," as the snake prompted discussion about people's snake phobias.

One woman said the snake was "still frightening even if it is not venomous."

Despite some people's shock at the sighting, the grass snake - officially called the Natrix natrix - is "widespread" in England and Wales.

According to The Wildlife Trusts, grass snakes are particularly common in wetlands as this is their preferred environment.

You can typically spot a grass snake by its greenish appearance and yellow collar with black neck patches. The female is bigger than the male.

Last August, a new species of grass snake was found in the UK: The Natrix helvetica - bringing the total native species of snakes in the UK to four.