THE owner of a snake that has gone missing is desperate to find him after it helped her to overcome depression.

Angel Baines had to be evacuated from her apartment from the Marklands building in Tyldesley on Thursday after it was decided that the building was at risk of collapse.

The 19-year-old had been unable to find her three-foot royal python since it went missing four days earlier on Sunday, June 10.

A report was made on Monday that it has been spotted in Astley Street Park.

Angel, who works as a chef in Manchester, has been quick to dismiss comments on social media that the two-year-old snake, named Marshall after rapper Eminem, is venomous and insists he is harmless.

She said: "Marshall is only a baby python and has never bitten me before.

"He means the world to me and helped me to get through my depression.

"When I was feeling down the responsibility of looking after him by doing things like feeding him and changing his water kept me going.

"As long as he is OK that's all that matters to me."

Angel is concerned over Marshall's welfare as he needs to stay in a temperature of between 26 and 32 degrees Celsius.

She added: "I am really worried about him at the moment as he is nervous around people and needs to be in a hot environment to survive.

"He can't see and only moves after sensing vibrations and heat.

"He would get scared if an animal like a dog approached it."

Marshall's skin is black with a beige-coloured head.

She has asked people to contact her on 07902 548327 if they see him.