The jungle came indoors yesterday afternoon when tropical animals from around the world arrived in Gidea Park.

Romford Recorder: Snakes Alive at Gidea Park Library. Oliver Milne, 7, with a giant prickly stick insect called SpikeSnakes Alive at Gidea Park Library. Oliver Milne, 7, with a giant prickly stick insect called Spike (Image: Archant)

The Snakes Alive reptile experience landed in Gidea Park library on Balgores Lane yesterday offering an interactive educational talk complete with lizards, snakes and creepy crawlies.

Children were taught about the exotic reptiles and insects and were even shown the snake skin of a 13-foot-long boa constrictor.

Romford Recorder: Snakes Alive at Gidea Park Library. Grace Turner, 8, with a curly haired tarantula spider called Matilda, also 8Snakes Alive at Gidea Park Library. Grace Turner, 8, with a curly haired tarantula spider called Matilda, also 8 (Image: Archant)

Library manager, Kate Deery, said: “It was fantastic.

“The children absolutely loved it, they were so excited.”

Romford Recorder: Snakes Alive at Gidea Park Library - Archie Holmes, 9, Tyler Cutting, 9, Hardy Badir, 7, and Teddy Aslam, 8, are holding 10 foot long Burmese Python Eleanor, 4Snakes Alive at Gidea Park Library - Archie Holmes, 9, Tyler Cutting, 9, Hardy Badir, 7, and Teddy Aslam, 8, are holding 10 foot long Burmese Python Eleanor, 4 (Image: Archant)

Snakes were draped along the shoulders of children while tarantulas, stick insects and scorpions crawled up their arms and over their heads.

Dan and Pete the animal handlers asked questions and some of the kids really knew their stuff.

Miss Deery added: “The kids loved the fact that it was interactive and they got educated at the same time.

“The animal handlers were very informative about the creatures on show.”