Cassie the North American corn snake got herself in a mess when she decided to investigate a gap in the fish tank where she lives.

The non-venomous reptile got stuck between a glass lid and the plastic covering of her tank.

She wriggled halfway out and became jammed and started panicking.

Each time the snake moved she became more firmly stuck. Her body started swelling and she was cutting her skin on the sharp edges.

Her worried owners called the RSPCA but officers were unable to free her.

They said the only answer was the fire brigade so Cassie was taken to Roedean fire station in Brighton.

Leading Firefighter Gary Smith said: "We have lots of high-tech tools available but in the end we found a pair of pliers did the trick.

"The snake had managed to wriggle through a hole. She was half in the tank and half out and had been stuck like that for about nine hours."

They filed away the edges of the glass trapping Cassie until she was able to slither free.

Mr Smith said: "It took about 20 minutes. The owner's little daughter was a bit upset that Cassie was hurt but apart from a few scratches the snake looked fine.

"She was put in a box and carried home."