A WILDLIFE centre has found itself in a sticky situation after its insects bred out of control.

Durham Botanic Gardens keeps a collection of stick insects in its tropical bugs section.

But with the onset of spring, their numbers have multiplied at an unprecedented rate.

Now gardeners at the centre are appealing for members of the public to adopt the creatures as pets.

Head gardener Michael Hughes said: "It happens occasionally that the numbers significantly increase, but for some reason there are a couple of hundred this year.

"It's natural for them to breed in the spring, but we may also have had a high survival rate over the winter. Perhaps stocks have been building up."

Mr Hughes said the large increase has left the stick insects without sufficient food or space.

He appealed for insect-loving people to take them home.

"Lots of kids have taken them over the years and they've had no problems," he said.

Anyone wanting to adopt a stick insect should ring 0191-374 7972 or go to the Botanic Gardens, in Durham City, with a ventilated container.