Visitors to East Ham market hall can take a walk on the wild side on Wednesday when the popular indoor market hosts its first ever reptile house.

Kids of all ages will be able to feed and hold cornsnakes, spiders, tortoises and a Royal python - or even take a gecko for a walk.

Michelle Fitzgibbons, sales and marketing manager of East Ham market hall, said: “It’s something fun and I reckon 90 per cent of kids have never seen a tarantula because it is not the kind of thing that you see everyday.

“We have had a really huge demand for it and we are hoping, fingers crossed, that it is going to be a good fun day out for all the family.”

The animals will be provided by Reptile-Haven, a registered charity based in Dagenham, which takes in unwanted reptiles.

Facepainting will be available for a small charge, with the proceeds donated to the charity.

For more information, call 01708 740492.