Sainsbury's customer left 'gobsmacked' after discovering 'snake-like creature' hidden in bag of potatoes
A slow worm
Getty
A family was left gobsmacked after finding a 'snake-like' creature in a bag of potatoes.
The family from Flintshire were ready to prepare their Sunday roast when they saw the creature slithering among the spuds.
It is actually understood to have been a slow worm, a type of lizard which is native to the UK.
Sainsbury's, who provided the bag, have now apologised for the incident.
The slow worm was found in the bag of potatoes
Getty/PA
A member of the family, who asked not to be named, told North Wales Live they received an online order to the remote property they were staying at on Saturday, May 25.
They said: "The delivery driver was very helpful as the steps to access the house were severe and needed a very good level of fitness.
"Many trays of shopping and £370 later, we had our food for the next few days.
"On Sunday, we’d planned to make a roast dinner. We started preparing early in the morning as we’d planned a day out. We took the bag of potatoes out of the cupboard ready to prepare our roasters."
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The snake like creature was spotted in the bag
The family saw "something in the bag" that was moving.
They said: "Then to our absolute horror we saw it move. It was obvious initially it was large but only on closer inspection did we realise it was snake like.
"Given the fear of snakes we have, you can imagine the screams.
"Once we calmed down and showed other family members we took a closer look. There it was, slithering around all of our potatoes whilst we looked on in horror. We had no idea what to do next."
The family luckily managed to extract the creature, later identified not as a snake but as a slow worm.
A Wildlife Trusts spokesperson said: "Its identity is given away by its abilities to shed its tail and blink with its eyelids.
"Slow worms can be found in heathland, tussocky grassland, woodland edges and rides where they can find invertebrates to eat and a sunny patch in which to sunbathe.
"They are often found in mature gardens and allotments, where they like hunting around the compost heap."
Slow worm (file pic)GettyA Sainsbury’s spokesperson told GB News: "We have been in touch with [the family] to apologise for this rare experience and offer a gesture of goodwill.
"We have processes in place to prevent this from happening and are investigating this case with our supplier."