A WOMAN believes the five foot corn snake discovered in the dashboard of a car being driven on the M5 near Worcester may belong to her eight-year-old son.

Fiona Wellington, from Millhouses, Sheffield, is now desperate to be reunited with Keith the snake after he went missing in her car around June.

Despite taking the car apart several times and even staying in the car overnight with a dead mouse to try and coax it out, there was no trace of Keith.

Mrs Wellington traded in her car at Bristol Street Motors in Sheffield and believes the couple, who were reportedly driving back from the northern city after buying a car, has found her beloved snake.

Mrs Wellington, a teacher at a mental health hospital for children, said: "Around June I was taking Keith into work and he went missing.

"I didn't know whether he had gone missing at home or in the car.

"We gutted the car and the house but we couldn't find him anywhere.

"Over the summer we went to France on holiday and we found a snake skin had been shed in the car.

"I just went "Oh My God, Keith is still alive and living in the car" I couldn't believe it.

"Again, we gutted the car but we couldn't find him - my friend who also keeps snakes said he would have slithered off because he was so hungry.

"A month ago I traded my car in and I read in an article that the couple were driving back from Sheffield after buying a car here - I'm convinced the snake is Keith and I desperately want him back."

She is begging anyone with information about the snake's new whereabouts to get in touch so she can surprise her son who was devastated by the loss.

Central Motorway Police was called to the hard shoulder of the M5 southbound between junctions seven (Worcester) and eight (South Wales/Ross-on-Wye) at 9pm yesterday (Thursday).

Calling it "the most bizarre job in a long time", officers tried to retrieve the snake but when they were unsuccessful the couple were happy to carry on with their journey after the snake was confirmed as harmless.

Mrs Wellington has appealed to the couple to get in touch so the family can be reunited with Keith who they have had for about three years.

"I can't describe what Jack would be like if we managed to get him back.

"We went through the whole grieving process when we thought we lost him.

"Jack would just be so happy and his little face will just light up if he was reunited.

"He loves that snake so much and would sit and read him stories at night time and he curls around him.

"Keith will be so hungry and thirsty though.

"I just can't believe it, it could be him."

Can you help reunite Keith and Jack Wellington? Call the newsdesk 01905 742244 or email cp@worcesternews.co.uk.

Previous story

A SLITHERY stowaway was discovered in a family's car on the M5 in Worcestershire this evening.

Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) has called it their "most bizarre job for a long time" after the snake was discovered in the family's car.

Officers  attended a breakdown on the M5 this evening - however things took a bizarre turn when the family found the reptile.

It is believed to be a five foot corn snake.

CMPG said they were as surprised as the family at the discovery.

The officers added that the situation was still ongoing and they will update later (9.20pm).

The couple who discovered the snake in their car were happy to continue on with their journey after attempts to recover it were unsuccessful.

It was confirmed that the snake was not dangerous.

It appeared to have disappeared into the car's structure and the car will need to be taken apart to get it out.

Recently, a snake bit Patricia Bullock, 57, as she walked along Lansdowne Crescent, Worcester leaving her with puncture wounds.

Read the full story here.

  • Are you the family who discovered the snake in your car? Email cp@worcesternews.co.uk.