A snake was filmed as it swallowed a pigeon on a London street.

As the boa constrictor devoured the bird, bystanders in High Road, Leytonstone captured video and photos of the incident, as others alerted the RSPCA.

A spokeswoman from the animal charity told London's Evening Standard that it appeared someone had fed a dead pigeon to the snake.

RSPCA inspector Rebecca Bedson said she had taken the snake to a wildlife centre where it is currently being assessed. It is believed to be an escaped or abandoned pet.

“I’m very keen to find out how he came to be in such a dangerous situation,” she said. “Exposed like that on a street could have meant anything might have happened to him.”

“It might be that he is an escaped pet, or more worryingly, someone may have deliberately dumped him and left him to fend for himself. The charity is finding that many people are unaware of how much of a commitment these animals are when they take them on. As a result the RSPCA is rescuing hundreds of reptiles every year.”

Dave Fawbert, who pictured the incident a photo of the snake coiled tightly around the pigeon, said: “100% eating the pigeon, it had its jaw open wrapped around it and the head was half-way in already.”

Rachel Garland, 29, who filmed the video, told the BBC: “It was really cool, you never see anything like that. I wasn’t scared because it was moving so slowly and it was completely wrapped up in its pigeon. It was just trying to eat the pigeon, it wasn’t taking any notice of all the people.”