NORTH Wales has seen a surge in the number of venomous snake bites due to the current warm weather.

At the beginning of June a 13-year-old boy ended up on a heart monitor after being bitten by an adder on the beach in Pwllheli.

Macey Roberts, from Wrexham, had been running through the dunes with his sister, Holly, 15, when he felt something get stuck in his foot. The bite left two holes in his foot while his leg turned black all the way up to his stomach.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has confirmed they have seen several cases of people being bitten by adders in the last few weeks.

Adders are venomous, but they are not aggressive and most bites result from deliberate handling, antagonisation or accidental encounters. They are generally found in open ‘wild’ habitats such as heathlands, commons, moorland, sea cliffs, dunes and woodland rides and are mainly active during the spring and summer months after coming out of hibernation.

Dr Linda Dykes, consultant at Ysbyty Gwynedd’s emergency department has warned the public to keep children and dogs out of the sand dunes.

See the full story in this week’s Cambrian News