THE NORTH-EAST'S largest indoor visitor attraction yesterday welcomed its 175,000th visitor since opening last May.

Brian Edwards, of Crawcrook, near Ryton, Tyne and Wear, was visiting Life Interactive World, in Newcastle, with his wife Margaret and friends, Derek and Susan Pearson, of Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, when he was singled out as the lucky visitor.

During their visit they got the chance to cuddle up to Dwaine, a boa constrictor who is there as part of Scales and Tails week at Life.

Mr Edwards said: "I have been wanting to visit Life since it opened, and now I have, I am very impressed.

"There is a lot more to see and do than I expected, and it's certainly not just for the kids."

Linda Conlon, director of Life, said: "Scales and Tails is a big success. People love learning about live animals and Dwaine is very friendly.

"Our visitor target to date is 165,000 but we are already at 175,000, which is great news."