A giant snapping turtle emerged from a quiet village pond at Ditchling.

Weighing in at a massive two stone and measuring two foot from nose to tail, the reptile - nicknamed Snappy - is probably a victim of the Hero Turtle craze.

Southern Water officials believe it was bought as a pet and then abandoned in the pond when it grew too big.

With its hard shell, hooked nose and powerful jaw, one glimpse of the snapper would have been enough to give anglers or walkers a nasty shock.

It has now been removed from the pond and rehoused by volunteer pond warden Paul Pendlebury.

The reptile is one of 16 terrapins and three snapping turtles which Paul, 43, is looking after at his home in Hailsham after rescuing them from local ponds.

Most are thought to have ended up there after the popularity of TV cartoon series Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles waned and children lost interest in their pets

Cruel

Paul, who runs a village shop in Herstmonceux, has a lifelong interest in zoology and the environment and is a member of Southern Water's pond warden scheme.

He said: "It is cruel and crazy the way people buy these terrapins thinking they are dear little Hero Turtles and then, discovering they have taken on more than they bargained for, just dump them."

Village ponds are a prime place for disenchanted owners to dispose of their unwanted pets.

However ponds harm the terrapins, which prefer warm winter places for hibernation, and they kill other pond life.

Paul said: "Terrapins are predators and will destroy frogs, spawn, eggs and young chicks so the whole balance of pond life is altered."

He described the giant snapper as a "real killer", but is fond of all his rescued reptiles.

He said: "They live in the lap of luxury at my home and I'm even building a glass cover over the pond so they can have good winter quarters. They have names and personalities, some shy away, others I hand feed."

Snapper turtles can live to up to 100 and be aggressive, with a sharp bite if angered.

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