Move aside cats and dogs, south Essex is home to a whole variety of pets.

We appealed for your unusual friends, and you sent in hundreds of photos from snakes to spiders, fish to birds and were keen to show what great pets they make.

Michaella Joslin-Cross, of Basildon, said: “I’ve been in love with reptiles my whole life but have owned reptiles and other unusual pets for about six years.

“I love these animals because they are not your every day pet but still show so much emotion. I have four royal Pythons in beautiful colours and an adorable tiny leopard gecko who was born with a slight deformity on her front legs and possibly dwarfism but that doesn’t stop her from enjoying her life.”