SNAKES, tarantulas, cockroaches and giant snails were just some of the creepy critters took over a Darlington shopping centre during a half-term Halloween event.

Shoppers got more than they bargained for when the Scary Zoo took over the Cornmill Shopping Centre, which gave children of all ages the chance to get up close and personal with some of nature’s scariest creatures.

The Halloween-themed event invited visitors to feed the animals and learn more about them from the zoo’s trained handlers, as well as taking part in beetle racing.

Susan Young, Cornmill’s centre manager, said: “The ever popular Scary Zoo event was a huge success.

“We aim to give our visitors an entertaining and memorable shopping experience, and they certainly got that when they came face to face with an array of creepy crawlies.

“There was also an educational aspect to the event and visitors had the chance to learn about important issues such as conservation.”