A slippery customer gave Royal Mail worker Jan Groom a shock when it sneaked in for a nap in one of her trainers.
Mrs Groom, 42, was dressing for a gym session at her office in St Peter's Street, Colchester, when she came face to face with the reptile. In horror she hurled the snake across the room.
"It was only when its pink tongue popped out did I realise it was real," said Mrs Groom, of Humber Road, Witham.
The 18-inch Californian king snake was rescued by RSPCA officials.
How it came to be inside one of Mrs Groom's size five Fila trainers remains a mystery.
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