TWENTY six venomous snakes and three small crocodiles are among the 'dangerous wild animals' being kept in private Warrington properties.

The council has granted four residents licences to keep the animals, which is a requirement under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

One premises in the town, with two owners and two separate licences, is home to 26 venomous snakes and one caiman – a smaller member of the crocodile family.

A second premises has two caimans at the site, while a third has three Felidae species, which is the term used to describe the family of cats including tigers, lions, jaguars and leopards, but also includes 'small to medium-sized cats'.

The council confirmed regular inspections are carried out at the properties by authorised officers and a vet.

A spokesman said: "These visits are to ensure the animals are being cared for appropriately and that suitable safety measures are in place."

RSPCA chiefs are urging anybody interested in applying for a licence to carry out 'plenty of research' prior to making the 'commitment'.

They also said many of the creatures have the same needs as they would in the wild, while indicating 'environmental, dietary and behavioural' requirements for the animals 'can be challenging'.

A spokesman added: "Licences for exotic animals classed as dangerous wild animals, such as cobras, ostriches and caiman, are granted by local authorities and the details are also held locally.

"There is no centrally-held list to determine how many are kept across the country.

"The emphasis of this legislation is on making sure the owner takes reasonable steps to prevent the animal from being a threat to the public, rather than the welfare of the animals concerned.

"We are deeply concerned about the number of exotic animals, including dangerous wild animals, now being kept as pets.

"People may buy them with little idea of how difficult they can be to keep and the animals are sometimes neglected when the novelty wears off and the commitment hits home.

"This is why we would encourage anyone thinking of getting an exotic pet to find out as much as possible about the animal's needs and whether they're a realistic pet.

"Exotic animals have specialist needs and this includes the ones listed in the Dangerous Wild Animals Act list."

For further information visit rspca.org.uk