Snake in loo sends Qld tradies scurrying

Tradesmen in north Queensland were sent scurrying when they uncovered a three metre snake coiled up in a toilet.

The tradies were renovating a home in Townsville on Friday when they lifted the lid to find a resident carpet python.

They swiftly called local snake catcher Elliot Budd, who arrived to unclog the situation.

"They didn't mention where it was so it was kind of a surprise," he told AAP.

"They usually find somewhere cosy to curl up like water tanks, gutters or in a roof but this is definitely the strangest location."

The snake was so at home it had contorted itself one metre into the U-bend.

Tightly coiled, it had to be freed by unbolting the toilet from the floor.

"I was grabbing him as tightly as I could and eventually came back up through the pipe," Mr Budd said.

"I needed a good shower afterwards, it was a bit of a workout."

Mr Budd said saving the snake was a virtual solo endeavour, with the tradesmen keeping their distance.

"Only one was keen to stick around, the rest disappeared pretty quickly," he said.

The snake was safely released into a nearby national park.