THIS is the moment that a Southampton girl was reunited with her beloved pet snake - thanks to the Daily Echo.

Eleven-year-old Lauren Frampton was left devastated after making the shock discovery that her three-month-old corn snake had disappeared from its tank.

But now after a week of misery and worry, the two are back together again.

They were reunited after the Daily Echo reported that a baby snake was found in a Southampton couple's flat earlier this week.

Mum Leanne Rogers explained: "Lauren had gone to play with the snake on Thursday last week when she discovered the latch to its tank was broken and the snake was gone.

"We think our eight-month-old kitten must have tried to get into the tank.

"I knew that snakes like warm dark places and we turned her bedroom upside down looking for it but with no luck.

"She was absolutely heartbroken and in tears."

Then on Wednesday, the Echo featured a story about a young snake that had been found in the bathroom of a Southampton couple's flat.

Skandia employee Leanne, 29, added: "My partner phoned me and told me that I had to look in the Echo.

"When I did, there was Lauren's snake on page three."

The snake - lovingly called Angel - had made its way into Jackie Humphries' first floor flat - two doors down from Lauren's flat in Green Lane, Maybush.

"I always thought it would turn up, but not in the Echo," Leanne said.

Yesterday Angel was settling back into life with Lauren.

Lauren said: "It was horrible when Angel was gone and I was really upset."