A ten-foot-long python on the loose has been captured by firefighters and the RSPCA.

The snake had been spotted slithering across a road in Cambridgeshire.

It then climbed a tree before nestling in its branches.

The fire brigade cut through the wood and allowed the snake to fall onto a tarpaulin below.

Justin Stubbs, from the RSCPA, said:

“I really could not believe it when I got there and saw this huge snake all the way up in the tree – it was a scene a bit reminiscent of The Jungle Book.

“When I saw the snake so high up in the branches, I knew it was going to be tricky to get him down due to the height the snake had climbed to, difficulty gaining access to him, and the need for more people given the size of the snake.

“I contacted Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and they kindly came out to help me.”

The snake was given the once over by a local specialist.

Now, the RSPCA is trying to trace its owner.

Mr Stubbs said the snake could have been living wild for some time.

H added: “Unfortunately, this sort of thing isn’t unusual and we receive thousands of calls a year relating to reptiles, like snakes and lizards, who have either escaped or many of which have been abandoned by their owners.

“Sadly, snakes often also end up in our care as some owners don’t realise the commitment that is involved in meeting the needs of these animals and keeping them healthy.

“This is why we’re always saying that people should do their research before taking on a pet.”