A BORDERS woman has described her shock at seeing a snake while out on a walk.

Emma Duff spotted the adder near Galashiels Golf Club on Saturday, April 3.

In a Facebook post, Ms Duff warned locals to watch out for the UK's only venomous snake.

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Alongside a picture of the adder, she wrote: "Jumped 6ft this morning when Jim and I spotted this walking up by the burn!

"Be careful dog walkers. First time I've ever seen one [an adder]."

Scotland's only native snake, adders are usually reclusive – but come out of hibernation in March as the weather improves.

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They are the only venomous kind in the UK, but are unlikely to bite a human or dog unless disturbed.

Nature Scot says: "An adder’s preferred defence is to hide in the undergrowth.

"But if a person gets too close, the adder will lash out to enable its escape.

"Most bites happen when people try to handle adders.

"If you find one in the wild, leave it alone and let it move away quietly of its own accord."