RESIDENTS at a Weaverham care home welcomed a number of weird and wonderful creatures into their home as part of a visit from exotic animal handlers, Zoolab.

During the visit, residents at the Gleavewood residential home in Farm Road showed some serious nerve when they came face to face with exotic animals, including a tarantula, a giant snail and a giant cockroach.

The residents enjoyed holding and petting these and a number of other animals, while learning facts about their diets and natural habitats from the Zoolab handlers.

Julie Gerrard, Home Manager at Gleavewood, said: "We always try to hold a variety of interesting activities at Gleavewood, and experiences like these are great for putting a smile on everyone's face.

“The visit was a fantastic way of bringing our residents together to socialise, and the Zoolab handlers were excellent at getting everyone involved.

“Our residents thoroughly enjoyed having the chance to handle and pet the animals, and we're all very much looking forward to having them visit again."

Zoolab is an animal handling experience company that provide a range of tailored activities, including primary school education workshops, holiday entertainment and animal therapy.