A gardener with a fear of snakes described the moment he came face to face with his worst enemy in a Shoebury garden.

Tom Lee-James was mowing the lawn of a back garden in Leitrim Avenue when he came across a 9ft snake, believed to be a Boa constrictor, coiled around a dead bird.

The 27-year-old, who works for Root2Shoot executive lawn care, instantly turned off the lawnmower and ran out of the garden, shutting the gate behind him.

In disbelief, his boss asked him to go take a picture to show what he encountered was true.

He called the homeowner’s son, Martin Picket, who then phoned the RSPCA and police.

Within a few minutes the snake had slithered off and is still at large.

Mr Lee-James, who has been scared of snakes since he was a child, said he at first believed someone was playing a joke on him.

He said: “I couldn’t believe my eyes.

“At first I thought it was a weed but then I looked closer and saw it all coiled up. I thought it must have been a joke.

“I have been told it is a Boa constrictor - I thought it was some sort of python.

“I have seen some strange things in gardens - like dead fish - but this is definitely the weirdest thing I have seen.

“I got out of there as fast as I could but my boss told me to go back and take a picture because he didn’t believe me.”

Mr Lee-James, of Bournemouth Park Road, Southend, added: “It was scary. My biggest fear is snakes, I don’t care about spiders.

“I hate snakes, I used to have nightmares about them when I was younger.”

Iain Newby, of the Dangerous Wild Animal Rescue Facility, in Great Wakering, spent the evening searching for the snake in Leitrim Avenue yesterday.