When a Royal Navy lieutenant, Olly Slight, and his partner Claire Fell found a 3ft long snake in their bed, “it was like something out of a horror film”.

A few weeks later the film’s sequel was played out — this time by the snake’s twin brother.

The couple had managed to corner the first snake after a chase around their rented home in Ilchester, near Yeovil, Somerset. It took refuge in their one-year-old son Jacob’s toy box, and was captured in a pillow case.

The RSPCA identified it as a non-venomous North American corn snake and found it a new home at a reptile sanctuary in south Somerset.

The couple had all but forgotten their close encounter two months ago until they found the black-and-orange snake’s twin slithering up their stairs.

They were considering finding somewhere else to live, fearing that there might be a nest of the reptiles in the attic. However, they belonged to a neighbour, who said he had lost two of his three pet snakes last year. Both runaways are now at the sanctuary.

Ms Fell said: “I was so relieved to hear there were only two. Finally I can have a good night’s sleep.”

Corn snakes can grow up to 6ft long and are native to the eastern United States. They feed on small mammals, which they crush to death.

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