A slippery customer was asked to leave a branch of Waitrose - after taking a snake shopping with him.
Shoppers looked on in astonishment as the man browsed the supermarket's aisles with his pet Royal Python hanging from his neck.
He was eventually asked to leave the shop in Beckenham, south-east London, on Saturday evening.
Witness Rachel Davies told the News Shopper: "It was around his neck. He went inside and he was holding the head of the snake.
“He didn’t seem the least bit concerned. But one lady with her baby was really concerned.”
Royal Pythons are not venomous but can grow to more than six feet in length. They are considered docile and are a popular choice for people wanting a snake as a pet.
Confirming the incident, a Waitrose spokesman said: "With the exception of customers accompanied with their guide dogs and assistance dogs, we do not allow animals into our branches.”
The RSPCA said taking snakes outside could cause them to suffer "distress and health problems".
