RESIDENTS in York got the shock of their lives when they were confronted with their neighbour’s escaped boa constrictor just yards from their homes.

People living in Osbaldwick Lane called in City of York Council after a three foot-long dwarf boa constrictor was spotted curled up on the pavement.

Dr Rama Isaiah and her husband Vijay have lived in Osbaldwick Lane since 1998 and say the snake is one of more than 50 kept by their neighbour, Pauline Wallace, in the three-bed semi-detached house next door.

Dr Isaiah said Mrs Wallace moved in with her elderly mother, Nora Langley, to act as her carer earlier this year and the snakes had moved in, too.

Dr Isaiah said: “A lot of the snakes are kept in the garage and the problem is they keep getting out. It means I daren’t leave my doors and windows open as I don’t know what’s going to get in. I am not particularly terrified, but my other neighbour is petrified, she daren’t go into the garden and hang her washing out or have her grandchildren round for fear of the snakes.”

Dr Isaiah said the matter has been raised with the council and inspections of the house have been carried out, but that no action has been taken. She said: “I can’t stop her keeping snakes in her property, but does she need to keep so many? The house is also in a bad state of repair and needs to be cleaned up. We feel very let down by the council.”

Mrs Wallace, said she has kept non-venomous snakes as pets for 11 years. She said the snakes that escaped will not do any harm as they will only eat mice or rats.

Mrs Wallace said: “I can understand why my neighbours would be frightened, a lot of people are scared of snakes, but I have explained to them that the snakes are completely harmless and they do make nice pets.”

She said the two snakes missing are a three-foot corn snake called Okee and a smaller juvenile lavender corn snake.

John Goodyear, of Environmental Services at City of York Council, said: “I understand that residents have expressed a concern, but I’d like to assure them that environmental officers have visited the property on several occasions and we are happy that the owners are complying with all rules and safety regulations.”

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said City of York Council has informed them of the complaints and they are looking into the matter.

If anyone thinks they have seen the snakes, phone The Press newsdesk on 01904 567131.