Two 8ft snakes found in children's playground

Two 8ft boa constrictors have been found close to a children’s playground in east London.

Police were called to Plashet Park in East Ham after numerous reports of two large snakes being spotted in the undergrowth.

Officers used a litter picker and a brown paper bag to retrieve the reptiles, which are non-venomous, but kill they prey by suffocation.

The snakes were taken to a local pet shop where they were identified as mature boa constrictors.

No one was hurt in the incident and police said they believed the snakes may have been released as unwanted pets.