PEOPLE are locking away their pets after a three-foot long snake attacked a dachshund.

Yesterday, the dog was recovering after its encounter with what is believed to be an albino snake in Belle Vue Road, Ipswich.

There had been reports of the reptile, which is described as white with red eyes, in the Woodbridge Road area over the past few days.

Amy Blackman, 33, who lives in the street, said her neighbour’s dog was recovering well at home: “A neighbour in the road saw it yesterday – it’s about the width of a man’s thumb.

“I know no one has reported it missing from the lower half of the road. I have not seen it – my neighbour thought it was a plastic snake and then when they went to grab it. It hissed at them and slithered away.

“It’s probably not venomous or anything like that. I would like it rescued, I do not want it in the garden – we have two rabbits and a cat. I am worried that they might be bitten. I locked them up just in case.”

Mrs Blackman said she had put the news of the sightings on the street’s Facebook website so people knew the latest.

Police have not received any calls about the reptile and people from the street are not clear as to what type of snake it is.