A snake has been spotted on the loose in Glasgow city centre, with reports of the reptile attempting to bite members of the public as they went about their shopping.
The incident has caused alarm among shoppers in the busy urban area, with eyewitnesses describing the snake approaching people and making attempts to bite them.
It is not yet clear what species the snake is, how large it is, or how it ended up loose on the streets of Glasgow. Escaped pet snakes are not unheard of in Scottish cities, with exotic reptiles kept legally as pets occasionally going missing from their enclosures.
Glasgow city centre is one of the busiest retail destinations in Scotland, drawing thousands of shoppers on any given day. The presence of a loose snake in such a densely populated area raises obvious safety concerns, particularly if the animal is venomous or large enough to cause injury.
Scottish SPCA and local authorities have the ability to respond to incidents involving escaped or dangerous animals, and it is expected that animal welfare officers or police would be called to assist in safely capturing the snake and removing it from the area.
Anyone who spots the snake is advised not to approach or attempt to handle it, and to contact the Scottish SPCA or Police Scotland immediately.