WHILE most people have a phobia about snakes one North-East man has turned his obsession for them into a highly successful business.

Graeme Skinner, 39, from Guisborough, is a herpotologist, which means he spends his time studying reptiles and amphibians.

His interest in adders began many years ago, and in the past he has kept boa constrictors as pets.

When he became redundant as a national manager for a plumbing and heating company, he opted for self-employment.

He set up Naturally Wild with the help of InBiz, a business support organisation which has its headquarters in Stockton.

The company helps people get on the right track from unemployment to self-employment.

His new venture takes him into fields and woodlands to observe and photograph wildlife, including adders, lizards, worms and other creepy crawlies, which send shudders down many people's backs.

But Mr Skinner is proving to be a success and his clients include local authorities, the national Highways Agency and English Heritage.

Presently, he is involved in a survey for the Highways Agency on the newly constructed M27 in Hampshire.

He spends his time dodging motorists as he looks for wildlife on the fringes of the busy contraflow.

When he finds what he is looking for, he takes photographs of it, and writes up his notes.

Then he carefully moves the creatures to a safe haven away from the perils of modern human life.

Mr Skinner said: "I've always been passionately interested in endangered species.

"Any spare time that I have ever had, I used to collect data.

"My photographs are taken in natural surroundings, so I can spend a day or a week just observing and waiting for the right moment to take my pictures.

"You need an incredible amount of patience to do the job properly.