A GIANT snake could be on the loose in Oxford after its shedded skin was found beside a busy road.

Alan Drewett and granddaughter Amelia, seven, made the discovery next to the Eastern By-Pass, under the Old Road bridge, with experts confirming it had the pattern of a boa constrictor.

REVEALED: ANOTHER boa constrictor was found in Oxford woods in 2011 

The section of skin measures five-and-a-half feet, but the snake could be several feet longer in total.

Read also: Eight things you should know in case you meet a boa constrictor

Mr Drewett's wife, Debra, appealed for its owner to come forward on Facebook, but the boa's whereabouts remain a mystery.

Oxford Mail:

Amelia Drewett with the boa constrictor snakeskin Picture: Debra Drewett

She said: “I couldn't believe my eyes when they brought it home.

"They thought it was just plastic in the brambles under the bridge, but they took a closer look and it was this huge snakeskin.

Read also: This is what it costs to keep a dangerous animal in Oxford

“Nobody’s come up with any sort of reasonable explanation for how it got there.”

Boa constrictors are non-venomous, but have been known to kill large animals by squeezing them to death.

They often grow to almost ten feet – or three metres – long, with the Drewetts' estimating the piece of skin they found is missing at least two feet.

It is now hanging up in their house, about 100 metres from where the discovery was made.

Oxford Mail:

The snakeskin is in the Drewetts' home

Mrs Drewett said: "It goes from almost floor to ceiling.

“I was really worried and had the image of a huge snake slithering around someone's garden."

The 65-year-old emailed the RSPCA and spoke to Evolution Reptiles in Kidlington, who told them it was a boa constrictor.

The shop does not sell that type of snake as they grow too big and assistant Nicole Head believes it was dumped deliberately.

Read also: Here are some of the dangerous animals kept in Oxfordshire

She said: “I can imagine somebody’s probably let it go, as a large snake is pretty hard to lose.

“It’s not the first time we’ve heard or seen this happen, but we’re keeping our eye out to see if anyone’s lost it.

“If it’s scared it’s going to be worried, but we can’t imagine it’ll cause harm.”

Oxford Mail:

The snakeskin was found near the Eastern By-Pass Picture: Google Maps

This view was echoed by Colin Stevenson, head of education at Crocodiles of the World zoo in Brize Norton, West Oxfordshire.

He revealed the boa would be feasting on rodents and small birds and the climate meant it was unlikely to survive until Christmas.

Mr Stevenson said: "It's not going to eat your cat.

"You wouldn't want it to bite you, but it would only give you a nasty wound.

"Most of these reptiles aren't going to do too well in the wild in England.

"It's certainly too cold for them to thrive, unless they can find somewhere warm or protected."

Read also: Boa constrictor seized from Faringdon home

Mr Stevenson added that one boa was found in Ducklington, near Witney, two years ago, the same year as the RSPCA had to seize an eight-foot long snake from a Faringdon home after its owner could not look after it.

You do not need a licence to keep a boa constrictor, as they are not venomous so not deemed a dangerous wild animal (DWA).

The city council confirmed there are no active DWA licenses in Oxford.

The RSPCA did not respond to a request for comment.