Ssssports Direct! Discovery of 6ft snake forces store to close on its first day trading since High Street lockdown ended
- The discovery of a 6ft snake forced a Sports Direct store to close on Monday
- A Honduran milk snake was spotted in the Newton Abbot store, Devon
- The shop manager stopped customers from entering and experts were called
- It took five hours for the non-venomous snake to be rescued from the shop
The opening of a Sports Direct store was thrown into chaos after a huge snake sparked panic when it was discovered inside.
A Sport Direct store was forced to shut after a Honduran milk snake was discovered in the shop
Sports Direct’s Newton Abbot store in Devon was shut for five hours while the snake was saved
Shoppers queued to enter the discount sports retailer but then a 6ft Honduran milk snake was spotted slithering around.
The shop manager stopped anyone from entering the shop and experts were called to the scene on Monday.
Sean Nichol, from For Goodness Snake, was notified by a shopper in the queue and rushed to the shop in Newton Abbot, Devon.
Sean, 52, said: ‘I heard from the pest control guy that the snake was around six to seven feet long, it was a Honduran milk snake.
‘They’re not dangerous at all, they could give you a little nip but even that wouldn’t be too bad.
‘They could give you a scare if you found one sitting inside a shoebox though.’
Sean said that he rushed to the shop at around 11am but wasn’t allowed in to rescue the snake, and instead a five hour rescue operation ensued.
A pest control expert and a local vet eventually retrieved the snake, and it is now being cared for by the vet.
Sports Direct have been approached for comment.
Police were called to the shop where the snake was recovered and is now in the care of a vet