Dog walkers warned as adder comes out of hiberation early

Dog walkers are being urged to be on the lookout for adders after a large snake was spotted in Sussex.

The snakes usually hibernate from October until the first warm days of March, which is when they are often seen basking on logs or hibernating under warm rocks.

Adders, which are grey or reddish-brown with a dark zig-zag stripe down their back, are the UK’s only venomous snake.

The snake was seen by a dog walker around Mill Hill in Shoreham – a popular walking spot in West Sussex.

However, the risk of adder bites is low, with 100 cases reported in the UK each year.