A Scots dad was left terrified after he found a 4ft snake in his late aunt's kitchen sink while clearing out her flat.
Paul Lawrie, was inside the property on Market Street in Musselburgh with his daughter, Abigail Lawrie, 28, on the afternoon of Saturday, January 7, when he spotted what he thought was a toy.
The 53-year-old had been going in and out of the property since December to collect mail and make sure the place was being kept clean and well-heated while vacant.
The pair were left shocked after Paul walked over to the scaly intruder - and "immediately" backed away after touching the reptile and realising it was a real snake.
Paul, a case maintenance technician, told the Record: "It was my daughter who asked me why my aunt had a toy snake in her sink. It didn't look real so I touched it but that's when I knew it was the real deal.
"My daughter freaked out. She doesn't like them at all. It's all well and good being told they're not venomous but you're still scared they might bite you.
"The last time I saw a snake was in the zoo 30 years ago. It was quite the shock to see it in my aunt's kitchen basin!"
Paul immediately contacted the Scottish SPCA, who sent out an inspector and confirmed the reptile had indeed taken up residence among his aunt's pots and pans.
The creature was removed from the property.
Paul continued: "The inspector said it wouldn't have been there for long because it was still fat and healthy-looking. She picked it up and put it in a pillow case, I didn't want to handle it at all. There was no chance I was going anywhere near it."
Photos taken at the scene show the orange snake nestled between washing brushes in a bowl beside the cooker. In one ominous close-up, the animal's eyes are almost bulging out of its sockets as it stares straight ahead.
Paul has also shared his bizarre encounter with the critter on a local Facebook group, but no one has claimed ownership of the snake.
"The inspector knocked on some doors on her way out to see if it belonged to anyone but I took it and she didn't get an answer. I put it on social media, too, to see if it stirred any interest, but no one has claimed it.
The SSPCA has been contacted for comment.
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