A Bristol who was bitten by a snake in an alleged racist attack has said the pain he felt was a "nine out of 10".

Daniel Buddington, 14, was bitten by a 4ft Boa constrictor or python after apparently being cornered by a group of youngsters on his street – The Avenue in Patchway.

It is alleged Dan was persuaded by a girl to go round to a house and had water squirted at him as he sat watching television in the lounge. Feeling uncomfortable, he tried to leave, but he says he was stopped from doing so by six boys and girls.

When he did finally manage to get out of the front door, it is alleged he was cornered at the front gate and an agitated 4ft snake, a family pet, was deliberately thrust towards his face.

As the snake struck, Dan put his arm up to protect himself and was bitten on his wrist. In excruciating pain, he had to prise the green reptile's jaws off of him. One of the snake's teeth got stuck in his arm and had to be removed at hospital.

As previously reported, it is also alleged he was the victim of racist, verbal abuse.

Although the Patchway High pupil does not like talking about what happened and is still very shaken up, he has told his mum Junise what it felt like to be bitten by the snake.

"I asked him, on a scale of one to 10 how painful was it and he said it was a nine," said Junise.

The community development worker, 31, got the shock of her life when she got a call from Frenchay Accident and Emergency on Saturday evening telling her what had happened.

"I said 'you what? A snake?' I couldn't take it in at first, I couldn't believe it."

She went to visit Dan and once he told her what had happened she went round to the house where the attack is alleged to have happened, as she knows the people in question.

Mum-of-three Junise added: "It makes me really upset, what has happened. You should be able to get along together whatever the colour of your skin. Dan's a big lad for his age and he has been picked on before by kids wanting to see how strong he is – that's what kids are like.

"I'm worried about him going out in the holidays now because you don't know what's going to happen.

"You hear about people fighting and using knives or guns, but now it's animals. I think it's awful and I think it's cruel to the snake too."

Doctors X-rayed Dan's right arm and it is not thought there will be any lasting damage.

At the moment, the bite marks are still visible and he has been given antibiotics and pain killers.

Constricting snakes, such as pythons and boas, are not venomous, but they have many teeth which they use to hold their prey in place while squeezing the life out of them.

Police have spoken to the alleged culprits but, as of yesterday evening, no arrests had been made.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokesman Wayne Baker said: "The teenager had been subject to racist comments and then reportedly held down as a snake was held in front of him, which bit his right arm.

"Experts have confirmed that the snake, described as green coloured and about four feet long, was not venomous."

Police are appealing for witnesses following the incident.

Police would like anyone who was in the Avenue area at the time of the incident to contact Staple Hill police station on 0845 4567000.

● On Saturday, the Bristol Evening Post reported that a pet cat in Brislington was eaten alive by a 13ft long Burmese python. The owners of Wilbur, Martin and Helen Wadey, are now calling for a change in the law that would see snakes officially classed as dangerous animals.