A passer-by filmed the confrontation between the rodent and reptile 

A RAT has been seen wrestling a snake on Hampstead Heath.

The video sent to the New Journal was taken in Kenwood near Mansion Cottage, writes Caitlin Maskell.

The rat is seen at one point gnawing the tail of the grass snake before both disappear into the bush. It is understood this is rather unusual behaviour for a rat. In most circumstances it would be the prey of the viper.

In 2023 snake monitoring took place on the Heath in which volunteers at conservation organisation Heath Hands recorded 148 sightings of grass snakes with the earliest grass snake found on April 11 and the last recorded on October 28.