Ananova:

A pregnant German woman almost went into premature labour when a snake slithered into bed beside her.

Martina and Clemens Pelz, from Loerrach in Baden-Wuerttemberg, woke up to find a 4.5ft corn snake in their bed.

The 31-year-old woman, who is almost eight months pregnant, feared she had gone into premature labour when she started to get stomach pains.

Doctors treated her for shock and gave her and the baby the all clear before discharging her from hospital.

Police, who later captured the non-venomous reptile, are investigating the incident and say it is likely the snake either escaped from its owner or was deliberately set free.