A snake has been discovered dumped among rubbish on land in Lawford.
Shocked Onyx workers from the Clacton depot discovered the reptile after a caller alerted Tendring Council's Waste Crusader hotline, which deals with complaints of flytipping.
The caller claimed a television was among items left behind flats in Nicholls Close.
But the television was actually a vivarium, used for housing rodents or reptiles.
And curled up in the bottom, fast asleep, was the snake.
Cleaner Glenn Perry picked up the reptile and wrapped it in his coat.
"The poor thing was nearly dead and we had to keep it warm somehow," said Mr Perry.
Ian Newby at the reptile rescue centre in Great Wakering, near Southend, where the snake was taken, said: "It was in fact a corn snake."
Published Thursday January 29, 2004
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