A 12-YEAR-old boy has been reunited with his beloved pet snake, after it went missing for seven months.

Christopher the corn snake slithered out of William Parker's house, in Kingswood Chase, Leigh, in September, but was not found until last week - right across the road.

The Echo reported on Friday how Phillip Hawks had discovered the animal in his driveway and then called animal sanctuary Dwarf, in Great Wakering.

William's mother, Alexandra Parker, said her son had been thrilled to learn of the discovery.

She said: "My parents read about the snake in the paper and told us about it.

"We couldn't believe the snake had been found so near where we lived, even though we hadn't given up yet on finding him again."

William was given the snake for his 11th birthday in March last year.

Mrs Parker said: "He was very upset when Christopher went missing. He was given the snake for his birthday and he really liked it. He's so happy he's got it back again."

When Mr Hawks found Christopher on his driveway, in Kingswood Chase, he called Iain Newby from the animal sanctuary, who then came to collect it.

Mr Newby suspected it was someone's pet because corn snakes are not native to this country.