A FIVE foot boa constrictor snake that had been on the loose overnight in Cwmgiedd has been found.
Boa constrictors are not poisonous but are still deadly as they can squeeze the life out of their prey before swallowing them whole.
Dyfed-Powys Police last night warned residents in the village, near Ystradgynlais, to keep doors and windows shut and to keep pets indoors. In the wild the snakes prey on small to medium-sized mammals and birds.
Police also said people shouldn’t approach the snake, described as black and silver, but instead call the force on 101.
It was reported as missing from a property in the village at around 7pm on Tuesday, July 3 and the force confirmed on Wednesday morning it had been found.
In response to questions on Twitter the Ystradgynlais Neighbourhood Police team said it didn’t believe the snake, that can reach up to 10ft, would travel far from where it escaped but officers were uncertain of exact distances.
Some local residents on Twitter said they feared for the safety of their children with the potentially deadly reptile, that is native to South and Central America, on the loose.