Children were amazed by snakes, insects and rats at Newport Market’s Creepy Crawly Zoo.

Visitors to the zoo, which had a nine foot python, tarantulas, cockroaches and mice, could handle some of the animals and take part in cockroach racing.

The mobile zoo also featured corn snakes, bearded dragons, a boa constrictor, giant snails, scorpions, a three foot monitor lizard and skinks.

Children picked a cockroach, cheered it on and the winners were given Hallowe’en sweets as prizes.

Andy Oram, commercial manager for Newport Market, said: “It was a great success and people were coming in all day.

The Madagascan giant cockroaches were probably the main attraction but the children were curious about all the animals.”

The event was held on Thursday as part of the city’s half term Hallowe’en celebrations.