Pink-Coloured Snake Identification?

[theincrediblesmiffy]

Hello all,
I remember from my childhood going to grab at what I thought was a giant earth worm. I only ever saw 3 inches of the tail but it had a pinky-red colour, it definately felt scaley and I failed to get a hold of it in my fingers as it pulled strongly and silently away, flat to the ground (unlike a lizard I imagine), and into the nettles. I doubt it was a worm also due to the size, texture and sunny weather that day.
I've never heard of or seen such a coloured reptile in Southern England before or since, only those of green, greys and browns. Am I simply incorrect, or was it perhaps a rarer colour of a common snake or lizard?
Thanks alot, it'll be nice to finally know

[RobinP]

It sounds like a slow worm, they can appear to be a pinky/bronze colour in some lights.

[Dogghound]

There is a close relative of the slow worm the Anatolian worm lizard Blanus strauchi but this is found on the islands around turkey, but looks identical to a worm, also a similar species in spain. possible escapee other that that more likely a slow worm.

[theincrediblesmiffy]

Yes I think it could be a slow worm, although I think it may have been larger, and a bit more pink coloured than I can imagine a slow worm being.
And I've looked at the worm lizards and they certainly fit the description, but not the location.

"ability to shed it's tail when grabbed by humans or predators. " - this certainly didn't happen!