A PECKISH snake plunged into a family's garden pond to pick up a lunchtime snack - an entire goldfish.

Paul and Jennifer Saywell were shocked when the slippery customer tucked into the catch at their home near Weymouth. The couple caught the moment the grass snake began to devour the fish whole in their garden at Bincombe.

The predator, estimated at around 18 inches long, finished off his meal before sliding away.

Jennifer, 61, who is retired, said: "We've had a few grass snakes in the garden before but have never seen anything like this.

"To see a snake grab a fish from the pond and eat it whole without being distracted was incredible.

"I first spotted the snake when I went out in the garden at lunchtime to get some tomatoes.

"The snake was there near the pond eating the fish whole. We've had fish killed before, by herons who come into the garden but we've never seen anything like this happen."

Jennifer's husband Paul, 58, grabbed a camera to capture the incident on film.

He said: "After finishing eating the fish, the grass snake went back in the pond where all our other fish are. "We've lived here five years and snakes have often come into our garden in the last couple of years because there is a lot of countryside surrounding the house. But seeing the snake eating the fish whole can't be a common sight and we thought Echo readers might be interested, especially those who have fish ponds."