A FRIGHTENED dog owner is urging others to be vigilant after she was bitten by an adder while on a walk on Canal Walk, Romsey.

As carer Julie Drake bent down to pick up her dog's mess, she felt "a horrible sting" before seeing blood pouring out of her hand.

With the blood still oozing, the 55-year-old grabbed her miniature Jack Russell Scooby and went to Southampton General Hospital, which said she had been bitten.

"I am just so glad it wasn't my dog," relieved Julie said.

"Other dog owners need to be made aware of this because this could happen to anyone.

"It really stung and I was frightened, but mainly for Scooby."

Julie is hoping other dog owners will be careful while taking their dogs out and stay alert to any dangers that might be lurking in the grass.

Hampshire conservationist Andy Lester told the Daily Echo hot weather will see adders go into more exposed areas.

He said: "It's important that dog owners keep their dog on a lead and on main paths. If they don't go into the thicker grass they are less likely to come into contact with an adder.

"Adder numbers are declining rapidly, but generally speaking when they are left on their own they will not attack."

The warm weather is now expected to simmer after the hottest temperatures on record were recorded.

The Met Office said today the temperature will peak at around 25ºC, which will continue to drop throughout the weekend. It also added that there was a 40 per cent chance of rain in Southampton between 1pm and 4pm on Sunday.

Despite the heat dropping, Highways England issued a plea urging drivers and passengers to refrain from throwing rubbish from their vehicle.

The organisation confirmed that within the last 10 days, 11 incidents of fires on grass verges on motorways and A-roads in the south east had been reported, with two of these on the M3.

With dry conditions on roadside verges, items thrown from passing vehicles such as glass bottles, cigarette butts and plastic can spark fires.

Highways England emergency planning officer, Frank Bird, said: “Smoke from roadside fires can drift across motorways posing a hazard to drivers. We’ve seen an increase in fires on grass verges near some of our motorways.

"With the land being so dry, it often only takes a small spark to take hold. We’d urge people to avoid throwing any items from vehicles at any time, but particularly in these hot conditions. Please take all of your litter home with you or dispose of it in a proper manner."