CHEWY the usually fearless alligator became all shy when she had to get ready to meet her new boyfriend last night.

The broad-snouted cayman has been at The Reptile Trust, Burnopfield, County Durham, since police found her in terrible conditions in a West Yorkshire pet shop last September.

Staff at the trust were due to fly Chewy - so-called because of a snappy fight with animal workers when she was first found - to meet a mate at Stuttgart Zoo, in Germany, early this morning.

However, they were dreading putting Chewy into a crate before driving her to Manchester.

"She does not like being put in crates one little bit," said trust chief executive Peter Heathcote. "It's like she knows, because she's already getting a bit difficult. Maybe if she knew she was going to a first-class new home and was meeting a new mate she'd calm down a bit - but she's being very naughty."

Mr Heathcote was due to drive Chewy to Manchester for a 6am flight this morning - if she could be persuaded to get into her crate.

Her new home was found by the Control of International Trade in Endangered Species organisation, which is paying £400 to take her to Stuttgart.