THE staff at Victoria Street's Wholesome Food Cafe don't often turn away a customer, but they found themselves doing just that on Wednesday afternoon when a four-foot red-bellied black snake brazenly slithered in the front door.
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Owner Chantel Stephens and fellow staff member Denise Hogan were alerted to the snake's presence when a woman walking past the shop screamed.
In the understatement of the year, Chantel said they were "a bit alarmed" when they realised they had their first reptilian visitor.
Chantel quickly grabbed a broom to prevent the red-belly from crawling further into the shop.
Despite its small size, Chantel said the snake was in a cranky mood and struck at the broom several times.
Customer Simon Eggins, of Eggins Comfort Coaches, was on the scene from the start.
Using a cob-web cleaning broom, Simon pushed the stroppy snake into a plastic garbage bin, which was subsequently shut.
The reptile was picked up by licensed snake catcher Brenton Asquith who would release it back into bushland in accordance with national parks licence conditions.
Chantel would hope that the snake's decision to slither in off the main street is a positive sign for the business which she has only owned for nine weeks.
"It's something you don't see everyday," Chantel laughed.
