Park wardens were shocked to find a big ssssssurprise in rubbish bags they collected from Luton's green areas on Tuesday.

The Luton Borough Council staff opened the waste when they returned to their depot to discover they had collected a 12-inch-long snake on their round.

But it is unknown which park the snake came from as the workers had travelled around town before heading back to base.

An RSPCA officer identified the animal as an adder, a native British snake, with an injury to her tail.

The council workers named her Sarah, after a Town Hall animal warden, and RSPCA inspector Mark Martin collected the snake to take her to a vet for treatment.

Part of her tail may have to be amputated but it is hoped that she will make a full recovery and can be returned to the wild when she is healthy enough.

Inspector Martin said: "Although adders live in the wild in Britain, I have not seen one for many years and this is the first I've had to collect in Bedfordshire or Hertfordshire.

"I am hopeful that the snake will recover and can be released at some point."