It is one of a number of snakes which have been discovered in the district recently, according to the the RSPCA.

Evelyn Wright, from Bolton-le-Sands, told of her shock as she returned to her car during a visit to the Lancaster shopping centre last Wednesday.

She said she was walking to her car when her husband shouted, telling her not to come any closer.

"He said there was a snake on the ground," she said. "I thought he was winding me up but then I saw it and I was a bit alarmed because I don't like snakes.

"It must have been four or five feet long."

Mrs Wright raised the alarm with a car park attendant who told her he happened to keep snakes.

He secured the snake in a bag and left it inside a box at the centre until it was collected by RSPCA animal collector David Hatton – who says there has been a spate of snake reports in the district.

Mr Hatton identified the creature as a corn snake and took it to the charity's reptile centre in Thornton-Cleveleys, where it will be kept until the owner comes forward.

He said the snake had been 'friendly' and in good health.

Mr Hatton said that in the last four months he has picked up corn snakes from homes near the University of Cumbria and in the West End of Morecambe, a milk snake from a home near the Ridge estate and a King Snake from a home in Torrisholme.

"I think it is because more people are keeping snakes as pets without really knowing how to look after them and I would advise people to read up on that and to keep them secure," he said.

None of the snakes have yet been reunited with their owners and Mr Hatton said they were capable of travelling between houses by crawling beneath floorboards and through cavity walls.

Jerry North, manager of St Nicholas Arcades, said: "I've been here for 14 years and we've had all sorts of incidents in the car park but never a snake.

"We haven't a clue where it came from but it's certainly not a native of Lancaster."

Anyone who thinks any of the snakes might be theirs can contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234999.