Army of snakes ‘capable of crushing small children’ discovered in Regent’s Canal

A colony of snakes capable of crushing small children or pets to death have been reported in London.

Around 30 Aesculapian snakes have been seen in buildings and trees near to Regent’s Canal in the capital over the last few weeks, according to the Daily Star.

The reptiles look similar to grass snakes, so they may have been living in the area of a long period dismissed as harmless until the head keeper of reptiles at London Zoo spotted one, and confirmed it to be an Aesculapian snake.

A number of theories have arisen as to how the snakes first arrived at Regent’s Canal, with the animals most likely escaping from captivity. The species prefer mild temperatures and are often found around riverbeds of southern Europe.