Snake chokes on its tail

A pet snake required emergency surgery after trying to eat his own tail.

Reggie, a 1m King snake, almost had to be put down after he mistook his tail for another snake and took a bite.

He soon realised his mistake, but could not regurgitate his nether extremity because of his inward-facing teeth.

Reggie was rushed to Seers Croft Veterinary Centre in West Sussex, where exotic reptiles expert Bob Reynolds prised open his mouth, dislocated his jaw and removed the tail before it had been digested.