THOMAS Swan has been at it again.

Earlier this month he found a great crested newt under his wheelie bin.

Now he's found a baby grass snake there too!

"Next week I might find an otter or something under the bins," he joked.

Thomas was first surprised to find a newt outside his home at Stoke Prior, near Leominster.

According to the Wildlife Trusts, the great crested newt, with its prominent, wavy crest, is also known as the 'warty newt'.

Newts are amphibians and spend part of their lives in water (breathing with gills) and part of their lives on land (breathing with lungs).

The grass snake, the Wildlife Trusts say, is Britain's largest snake, and is particularly fond of wetland habitats. It can also be found in dry grasslands and gardens, especially those with a pond nearby.

During the summer, they can be seen basking in the sun near their favourite ponds or swimming in the water.

Females lay 10 to 40 eggs in rotting vegetation, such as compost heaps, incubating them until they hatch in early autumn.

Like all reptiles, grass snake hibernate, usually from October to April.

They hunt fish, small mammals, birds... and amphibians. Better watch out, Newty!