A dad was left shocked after he went to grab a towel after having a shower only for a SNAKE to drop onto his bathroom floor.

Rob Holmes, 31, recoiled in horror after the Mexican Rosy Boa fell from a towel he had just grabbed from a wicker basket at around 4pm on Sunday (16/6).

He called for his wife to bring up a plastic box so that he could contain the snake before it slithered away down his pipes or drains.

RSPCA officers were called to the scene in Glebeland Gardens, Northampton, to collect the animal, which is believed to be an escaped or abandoned pet.

Rob, a personal trainer, said: “I was just getting ready to go out with my wife Emily-Rose and five-month-old son Tommy as it was Father’s Day.

"I just went to grab a towel when the snake dropped out on the floor.

“I was a bit bemused and just thought ‘wow what is a snake doing on my bathroom floor?’

"I then shouted to my wife to bring up a plastic box so it wouldn’t escape under the exposed floorboards and she was equally puzzled.

"She said: ‘What is a snake doing in our house?’

“I wasn’t sure if it was venomous or not so kept a safe distance but managed to place a box over it to stop it escaping under our floorboards or the water pipe from the sink.

“We think it probably came in the house by following the water pipes and I guess it found the towels in the wicker basket a warm place to stay.”

The 30cm-long (11 ins) snake was taken for a health check up and is now in the care of a specialist reptile keeper.

Rosy boas are non-venomous and native to the south-western USA and parts of Mexico.

Animal Collection Officer (ACO) Rebecca Frost said: “Mr Holmes seemed quite calm considering you don’t expect to see a snake when you have just showered and he had no idea if it was venomous or not.

“We would always advise that if anyone finds a snake they believe is non-native to keep a safe distance, monitor the snake and call the charity’s helpline on 0300 1234 999.

“Snakes are ectothermic so they rely on their environment to maintain their body temperature.

"Snakes that are not native to this country need a heated environment with a specific temperature gradient for the species to regulate their body temperature.

"If a reptile becomes too cold they may be unable to feed or move normally and their immune system will not work properly to fight disease, meaning the animal can become very ill so it was lucky the reptile was discovered and we were able to safely capture him.

“We are unsure whether the snake is an escaped pet or whether he has been intentionally abandoned so we have put an appeal on a local lost and found pet website.

“Sadly it is not unusual for us to be called to collect an abandoned snake. We believe many people are unaware of how much of a commitment these animals are when they take them on, and we suspect the reality of caring for them has become too much in these cases.

"This is why we would encourage anyone thinking of getting an exotic pet to find out as much as possible about the animal’s needs and whether they’re the right pet for them.

“It is so sad as people who are struggling to cope could simply ask for help and advice.

“Many of the snakes the RSPCA’s officers are called to collect are thought to be escaped pets.

"We would always recommend owners invest in an enclosure suitable for the particular species and that the enclosure is kept secure (and locked if necessary) when unattended.

"Reptiles, particularly snakes, can be extremely good escape artists and will take the opportunity of a gap in an enclosure door, or a loose-fitting lid.”

Anyone with information about who owns the snake is asked to call the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 123 8018.