A pet snake was left tong-tied this week after it swallowed a pair of the barbecue tongs at a home in South Australia.

Winston the woma python had to undergo surgery at Adelaide University Hospital after he had swallowed the tongs his owner had left the cooking utensils in his tank.

According to the snake’s owner Aaron Rouse, he had used the tongs to lower the mouse into Winston’s tank when the snake grabbed them and refused to let them go.

He took the snake to a vet and x-rays later revealed that Winston had fully ingested the pair of tongs.

It was soon felt that Winston would not be able to regurgitate the tongs without causing lasting damage and the vets decided to operate.

After a few hours under the knife, the tongs were finally removed.

Dr Oliver Funnell, a veterinary expert at Adelaide University, explained the procedure.