Former X Factor finalist Ashley McKenzie was forced to leave a shopping centre at the weekend after security staff took exception to his beloved pet snake.

The singer was asked to leave The Pentagon in Chatham after being spotted around 3pm taking the reptile to the shops.

Ashley’s PA Jessica Shenton-Phelps said: “Ashley carries Snakey around with him everywhere he goes and usually it isn’t a problem.

"We had been into a few shops in the High Street and The Pentagon. “

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