We've been bitten by a love of exotic pets ; PHOENIX FM: Reptile expert lifts the lid on hobby during visit

A REPTILE expert has been revealing how more exotic pets are keptin Essex than cats and dogs.

Rob Yeldham dropped into Phoenix FM with a film crew from Channel5 on Monday to lift the lid on snakes, spiders and lizards as partof the series Essex Jungle, showing how more than 30,000 creaturesare imported into the county each year.

The 32-year-old, who has been keeping reptiles for eight years,wants to flag-up the pleasures of keeping coldblooded animals, aswell as making sure people understand the responsibilities of whatit means keeping an exotic reptile such as a reticulated python,which can grow up to 25ft long.

Tarantula The show, with Phoenix …