Worker finds five foot snake in van
A red corn snake, similar to the one found in the hire van.
A 5ft long snake has caused a stir after slithering into a hired van. The North American red corn snake was found by a stunned worker who had hired the van to move some mattresses.
Steve Potter, 40, who works at bedding firm J Rosenthal in Bury, told the Telegraph he was in "complete and utter disbelief" when he opened the van to find the reptile.
It is believed the snake may have been left behind by somebody who had previously hired the van to move house.
Bury Van Hire called in reptile expert Joe McQuade, also known as Crocodile Joe, to rescue the animal.
Joe, 45, told the Telegraph: "He's gorgeous. Whoever owns him will be really missing him I imagine. These animals are great escape-artists and owners need to be responsible.
"They often get free and it's only a matter of time before a venomous snake gets out and something bad happens."
Livestock keepers are being urged to stay vigilant for Bluetongue (BTV-3) following confirmation of the disease in a ewe. The case, confirmed in Staffordshire on 23 June 2026, represents the first confirmed case of infection this summer.
