OLD folk welcomed some unusual visitors to their nursing home - a spider, a giant snail, a horn frog, turtle and a snake!

Nerves soon gave way to laughter as they became entranced by the creatures, great and small.

The exotic pets belonged to Widnes freelance lecturer Dave Duckett, who travels round giving talks to schools, youth clubs, hospitals and various organisations.

Elsie Weeks even plucked up the courage to hold Alice, the boa constrictor.

Millbrow's diversional therapist Jean Fleming, who organised the visit, said: "We are always looking for people to come in and share their hobbies and interests with us."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.