A CENTRE for exotic creatures opened its doors to the public for the first time yesterday.

The Exotic Animal Welfare Trust was set up at Boundary Farm, at Tow Law, County Durham, as an eventual replacement for the Reptile Trust at Burnopfield.

The £5m development, on a 22-acre site, is likely to become the country's biggest rehoming sanctuary, working with organisations including the RSPCA and zoos to rescue animals, adopt unwanted exotic pets, and offer educational visits.

Yesterday, it held its first open day, when visitors could see its first intake - of birds of prey, reptiles and ferrets. They also had the chance to dedicate a tree to a person or an animal.