A DOG has died after being bitten by a snake during a walk in the woods near Yorkley. Now its owner wants to warn walkers of the dangers.

Phyllis Dunn of Primrose Hill, Lydney had her West Highland terrier Bonnie on a lead and was taking the dog on one of their regular routes along a Forest path.

Just a few feet away from the car, the little dog stepped on an adder which was basking in the sunshine.

The snake, which was said to be two feet long and curled up, bit the dog on the leg, releasing deadly venom into its blood-stream.

Mrs Dunn rushed her pet back to Lydney and took her to Severnside Veterinary Centre, where vets started work immediately.

Unfortunately, the skin on Bonnie's foot, leg and abdomen started to turn black with the poison and the dog died the next day.

Mrs Dunn said: "Bonnie was on her lead and walking on the path when she was bitten. We didn't spot the adder because of the dust and stones on the path and it being brown. Bonnie was such a little poppet that I never let her go into the undergrowth in case something happened to her."

Mrs Dunn says she wants to warn other walkers and dog owners to be wary when walking through the woods.

A spokesman for Severnside Surgery said: "We have noticed that adder bites are becoming more common and their severity when they bite small dogs has also increased.

"We had another incident with a Dalmation which was bitten, but did well. The main thing to remember is that although this dog was on a lead, adders generally stay in the undergrowth. Dogs should be discouraged from rooting around the undergrowth if you think there might be adders about."

She said anti-venom was hard to come by and in this the case the manufacturers did not have any in stock.