The albino hognose snake found at The Cumberland Hotel

A COUPLE of holidaymakers got quite the shock when they unpacked their suitcase at a London hotel.

An albino hognose snake emerged from their bags at The Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch, after they returned from Kuwait. It is thought that the reptile had crawled into their luggage when they were packing.

RSPCA animal collections officer Jill Sanders came to their rescue.

“The long, red-and-yellow snake was just sitting there on top of their towels. They said they were so shocked they ran straight out of the room, and wouldn’t go back in until I got there,” she said. “Luckily I found the reptile inside a pillowcase where it had escaped to, and it was quite easy for me to collect.”

The snake is now at the South Essex Wildlife Hospital waiting to be re-homed.