A teenager is recovering after being bitten by a snake being brandished by a gang in Bradley Stoke.

The incident, which took place on Merryweather Close, took place on Saturday afternoon, is now being investigated by police.

Great Western Ambulance Service were called after the teen was “pinned to a wall” and the snake then forced to bite its victim.

A police spokesman said the 14-year-old boy was subjected to racist abuse during the incident.

He was taken to nearby Frenchay Hospital for treatment to his arm and for help with breathing problems.

Incident support officer Michael Howells said: “In order to try and identify the type of snake I Googled ‘snakes’ on my mobile to show the patient.

He was reasonably sure he could identify the type, so I sent the image to our control room.”

The control room then contacted Bristol Zoo who said it was probably a non-venomous type of python.

Mr Howells added: “Although the patient was suffering breathing difficulties after the attack, this was probably due to panic rather than a reaction to the bite – I would probably be panicky if that happened to me.”

The RSPCA are also thought to be involved in the investigation into the incident.

Updated to include police information.