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Already this summer a nine-year-old girl and several dogs have been bitten by adders.

The rare snakes, a member of the viper family, have been venturing into the open to take advantage of any warm sunlight.

Nigel Hand is an adder expert and told BBC Radio 5 live: "Adders have been pushed into small corners and habitats."

"They're associated with sandy soils on heathland sites or where there's gorse and heather," the herpetologist explained to Rachel Burden on 5 live Breakfast.

"Generally most people's view of a snake is of a tail slipping into the undergrowth."

You can hear other BBC Radio 5 live highlights by visiting the Best Bits section on the website.

5 live Breakfast broadcasts Monday - Friday 0600 - 1000 on BBC Radio 5 live.