The RSPCA sadly are not experienced with any form of wildlife and will only come out if the cameras are set up and it is all pre-staged. Just about any independant wildlife sanctuary in the area of the pesky grass snake would catch it and re-release in an area that is suitable. In just one case an inexperienced ( as most ) rspca inspector released an american crayfish ( illegal to release and kill our own native species, already in decline ) to which they admitted doing into an area occupied soley by our native crayfish. The rspca need to be kept to only cats and dogs.

SURICATE, LONDON,

If the snake isn't venomous you have nothing to worry about. I have frequently cornered snakes with a bucket, lid, and stick, and thus transported them to a part of nature where they won't be a menace. Just chase it into the bucket with the stick, and remember to put the lid on. Remember they are much more afraid of you than you are of them, and they are in need of your protection to keep the eco-system in place. Remember also they eat rodents, which are a more real threat, and so they are your friend.

Jurgens Schoeman, London,

It might not be a grass snake after all, as it lacks the distinct cream or yellow markings behind the head. It may be a closely related species from Europe which has escaped from captivity. Two species, the viperine snake and the dice snake (latter also called tessellated snake) both take a large proportion of fish in their diet. However, the specimen in the photograph lacks the colourful markings usually present along the length of the boddies in these highly aquatic snakes. I would be very interested to hear if my comments turn out to be correct.

Andrzej Zieleniewski, Salisbury, UK

Duh. If you put the pond there, why not be grateful for extra wildlife - especially increasingly rare grass-snakes - coming along?

I'd happily pay a goldfish a week or something to have one in my garden.

Tim, Perth, someplace nice,