Pet shops in the North-East have been checked in an operation to protect endangered species.

Over the past few weeks Northumbria Police, in conjunction with wildlife protection agencies, have been making undercover checks to see if any of the 126 pet shops in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland are involved in the illegal trade of exotic species.

This week, to coincide with a World Wide Fund for Nature offensive against the wildlife trade, officers revisited 14 premises to examine live animals, determine their origins and ensure they were being properly cared for.

Northumbria's wildlife liaison officer, PC Paul Henery, says: "We have been tracing records to make sure that no animals for sale in this region were born in the wild and sold as being bred in captivity.

"At the same time, we are aiming to encourage responsible ownership and improve the standard of how pets are kept in shops.

"Unfortunately there are too many people who buy themselves an exotic pet, such as a bird or reptile, without any idea of the specialised attention the animal will need.

"They are then neglected or abandoned because the owner can no longer cope."

Agencies helping the operation included the RSPCA and the Reptile Trust, in Consett, County Durham.