ELEVEN snakes, some of them in a critical condition, have been seized by the RSPCA and police from a two-bedroomed terraced house in the North-East.

All 11 of the 3ft-long corn snakes were being kept in a glass tank with no heat source and little food, when found in South Shields.

All were underweight, with four in a critical condition, and one close to death.

RSPCA inspector Iain Kane said: "The conditions the snakes were kept in were totally unacceptable.

"They are cold-blooded creatures and need a minimum temperature of 26C in order to survive. Anything below that and they are unable to digest their food and, over time, will starve death.

"Because these snakes had no heat source they had been regurgitating their food and many of them had become extremely malnourished.

"It was vital that we took swift action to prevent them from suffering any longer."

Corn snakes, which are native to North America, are non-venomous and known for their gentle nature.

Their colourings are shades of bright red or orange with black markings and they can grow up to about 5ft long.

A South Shields man has been questioned.