Enormous 14-foot python slithers round holiday park after 'escaping owner' and takes three men to recapture it

An enormous 14-foot snake slithered near a holiday park after 'escaping its owner' and took three men to recapture.

The Burmese python was spotted prowling down a lane near Monkton Wyld Holiday Park in West Dorset on Tuesday. 

At 14-feet long, the creature was eventually caught by three men who took four hours to lift it safely into a van.

It was spotted by two guests staying at the holiday park who mistook the giant reptile for a tree branch.

The couple alerted the staff at the holiday park, who nicknamed the snake Bella, and they ensured it was captured.  

Local resident Peter Bacon also saw the shocking jungle snake and pulled over to take a picture.

Mr Bacon said: 'I was driving when I saw this humongous snake, which is something you normally don't see every day round here.

'I stopped the van and took a picture to show my wife, and to put on Facebook in the hope someone would recognise it.

'There were a lot of people around it, who looked to have reported it to the proper authorities.'

Simon Prentice, a specialist reptile shop owner in Ilton, Somerset, was contacted after the snake was found and helped retrieve the animal. 

Mr Prentice said: 'I received a call saying that a massive Burmese python was down the lane from the holiday park.

'At first I thought it was a hoax, or someone was exaggerating the size but it was a 14 foot python.

'It weighs a ton, we haven't weighed it officially, but it took three of us to lift it into the van.'

He said a previous owner recognised the female python, which is believed to have been imported from Germany in 2018.

The ex-owner told the reptile shop owner how they sold the snake during lockdown and it is thought the it escaped or was possibly released.

The National Centre for Reptile Welfare said they would be happy to take the python. 

However, Mr Prentice has decided to keep it and has now started a JustGiving page to raise funds to build an enclosure big enough for the creature.

He said: 'There is a significant outlay needed - we plan to start the work on Saturday for a 12 foot long enclosure floor to ceiling with a water feature.

'We need to buy all the lighting, heating and wooden panels. For now she is being kept in the largest room we have which has enough warmth to keep comfortable.'

The fundraiser has currently raised £457 of the £2,000 target.