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A SAVVY woman has shared how she transformed her kitchen and saved herself thousands in the process.

Maisie Isabella, from the UK, wanted to give her kitchen an update without spending a fortune.

Tiktok/@maisabellaa

Tiktok/@maisabellaa

Taking to social media, Maisie shared the entire transformation she ended up doing all by herself after being quoted over £2,500 by professionals.

She said: “I got quoted £2,500 to wrap my kitchen.

“I just wasn’t feeling the glossy white anymore. It felt a bit clinical and dated.

“I was feeling a little bit delusional and impulsive, so I was like, ‘I’m gonna do it myself.'”

Maisie started her transformation by taking a picture of her kitchen and asking AI what colour would look best.

The AI suggested a dark wood effect for the counters, so Maisie did exactly that and bought a bunch of vinyl sheets to cover her kitchen.

Maisie used the Fablon Wood Effect Sticky Back Plastic from Dunelm in Deep Walnut, which cost just £5 a roll.

It was going smoothly until Maisie got to the cupboard and drawers and she realised how tricky applying the vinyl can be.

“I can see why people charge the amount they do, because this is not easy,” she added.

Maisie used an array of tools to get the vinyl to stick on smoothly; she used a hair dryer to make sure no air got in and then an old ID card to smooth out any bubbles.

While the job took ages and wasn’t the easiest, the end results were worth it.

Her kitchen went from clinically white to homely in a matter of hours.

She added: “Honestly so proud of myself that I did this for under £100 even if it cost me my patience and sanity.”

The clip soon went viral on her TikTok account @maisabellaa with over 1.4 million views and 98k likes.

People were quick to praise Maisie for her DIY skills and loved the new kitchen.

“You can’t tell me that this doesn’t look good.”

One person wrote: “This looks so much more homely!!! Gives character instead of institution.”

Another commented: “This is what my husband does for a living and he said you did a great job!”

“I was dubious, but this looks so much better,” penned a third.

Meanwhile a fourth said: “Sooooo much better and warmer.”

“Was a bit skeptical but it turned out really good,” claimed a fifth

Someone else added: “I’m seriously impressed.”

GERWYN PRICE seals incredible Poland Darts Masters title… despite losing his case and brand new set of arrows on the flight over.

The Iceman, 40, denied ‘King of the World Series’ Stephen Bunting yet another 2025 crown amid his sensational year by edging a riveting final 8-7.

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Gerwyn Price clinched Poland Darts Masters glory… but only after losing his luggage and brand new set of arrows[/caption]

And the manner of his victory is all the more impressive after he revealed the drama he faced on landing in Poland.

Following his sensational victory, 2021 world champion Price admitted he lost his luggage and his brand new set of darts.

The Welsh former rugby player then had to dash out and a buy new darts last-minute… before tinkering with them by filing down the points.

Reflecting on his win, Price – fresh from final heartbreak in the World Cup of Darts last month – revealed: “I’m quite chuffed that I won considering the circumstances…

“I lost my case, lost my darts… I had a brand new set of darts.

“I felt the points on them were too long so I was filing them down for two days.

“So to be mentally strong and come through games in which I wasn’t 100 per cent confident shows I’ve got great character and strength.

“I’ll probably keep these darts now and finish with them the rest of the year. It gives me confidence leading into the World Matchplay.”

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Price went on to say he felt frustrated during much of the tournament – but is glad he doesn’t have to “beat myself up” after finally clinching the title.

He said: “It’s nice to get back on the winning stage and getting trophies again, but I felt like I was a bit frustrated all the way through that game.

“I was trying too hard to get a leg in front and trying to break him but in the end I’ve done it.

“I missed a couple of match darts where I was probably 7-6 up where I could’ve lost it but double-double finish.

“I missed loads of doubles and kept Stephen in the game.

“But I played really well against Rob, I was a bit frustrated with myself in the final but that’s the way it goes sometimes.

“I played really well against Chris (Dobey), Rob (Cross). Got frustrated but I won and that’s all that matters… otherwise I’d beat myself up for a couple of days.”

DRIVERS could face nightmare conditions at Silverstone this afternoon as weather threatens to cause havoc for the British Grand Prix.

Weather forecasts are showing stormy and wet conditions in the hours building up to lights out at 3pm, with rain pouring at the moment.

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Wet weather has threatened to cause chaos at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix[/caption]

A yellow warning for thunderstorms has been issued by the Met Office as a result of the incoming rain.

The warning, which is set to expire at 7pm, tells the public to take caution with driving conditions.

Meaning the 200mph+ speeds on the Silverstone track could be even more risky under the wet weather.

Fans and staff at the Silverstone track are already soaked since the heavens have opened this morning with rain continuing to pour.

However, there’s hope that things could clear up in time for the big race this afternoon with the forecast looking more dry by 3pm.

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LOTTO bosses have revealed the lucky shop where a life-changing ticket worth €1MILLION was sold.

The Tipperary village of Clerihan is “buzzing with excitement” after one player struck gold in last night’s draw.

The punter won an incredible €1,000,000 in last night’s special Lotto Plus Raffle.

They purchased their ticket at Ely’s Centra, Clerihan Village Centre, Co. Tipperary, on Thursday.

The Lotto Plus Raffle usually sees between 60 and 120 winners of €500 in each draw.

However, Saturday night’s draw included a special event: every ticket with the winning raffle number was entered into a once-off random draw, where one ticket was selected to win an additional €1,000,000.

While all 104 ticketholders with the winning number received the standard €500 prize, one fortunate Tipperary player walked away with a life-changing total of €1,000,500.

The winning raffle number was: 9416.

Speaking on the win, Store Owner, Robert Ely said: “We took over the shop just two years ago, so this win feels like the perfect anniversary surprise! It’s incredible to think that a life-changing ticket was sold right here in our store.

“Huge congratulations to the winner, we’re absolutely delighted for you and wish you all the best of luck. What a moment for Clerihan!”

While there was no winner of the Lotto jackpot worth €10,070,226, in total, over 109,000 players won prizes in the Lotto and Lotto Plus draws.

Spokesperson for the National Lottery, Emma Monaghan said: “Over 109,000 players won prizes in Saturday’s draw, but it was a Clerihan player who topped the lot becoming Ireland’s newest millionaire.

“We’re encouraging all our players in Tipperary to check their tickets very carefully today because for one winner,

“it’s no longer a long way to Tipperary, it’s a fast track to millionaire status with a ticket now worth a life-changing €1,000,500!”

The winner is advised to sign the back of their ticket and to keep it safe.

They should make contact with our prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie and arrangements will be made for them to collect their life-changing prize in Lotto HQ.

It comes days after bosses revealed where another winning ticket was sold, that bagged the player a six figure sum.

The Lotto player managed to scoop a whopping €103,318 – but narrowly missed out on the jackpot by a single number.

The winning ticket was purchased on Thursday, June 26, on the Lotto platform.

It was revealed that it was purchased by a Dubliner.

The lucky player won €103,318 by by matching five balls and the bonus number, but was one number short of securing the life-changing jackpot prize of €9,155,242.

The National Lottery has confirmed that a notification and an email has been sent to the Dublin online player.

BACOLOD CITY – The Romeo Nanta Command-New People’s Army (RNC-NPA) operating on Negros Island on Sunday, July 6, claimed responsibility for burning two dump trucks and a backhoe in Sitio Medel, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Friday night, July 4. The destroyed heavy equipment reportedly belonged to a business owned by Carabalan’s village

WHEN it comes to booking a budget weekend break, you’d think heading somewhere in the UK would be the cheapest and easiest option. 

However, with the cost of train fares higher than ever in the UK, you may find a city break to Europe is cheaper than a staycation.

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Edinburgh is a great city, but it’s not a cheap place to go for the weekend, especially with sky-high train prices[/caption]

Alice Penwill

Fares to Scottish City, Edinburgh, over the summer are an average £200 return from London.

Alice Penwill, a writer from Hertfordshire, was planning a girls weekend in Edinburgh when ticket prices stopped her in her tracks. 

“We really wanted to go to Edinburgh as none of us had ever been. It was only when we started planning the trip, we realised that it was so expensive to get there. 

“Just the train fare alone was almost going to blow the budget. All the trains, even ones at obscure times of day, were over £200 per person.

“Hotels and guesthouses were also really pricey, so we started looking further afield”.

It’s no surprise. Train fares in England and Wales recently shot up by 4.6% and the cost of railcards has also increased. 

The UK train network has a bad reputation with delays, cancellations and overcrowding, already testing the patience of paying passengers.

At the same time, budget airlines like Ryanair, Jet2 and Wizz Air are flexing fares to Europe from £14.99 each way. 

So, for less than it costs to go away for the weekend by train, you could be drinking £2 Prosecco in Italy or tucking into Tapas at a bar in Barcelona.  

Alice agrees. “In the end, we booked a holiday to Bulgaria. We got a package deal for £260, so with the transport and accommodation, we ended up paying less than we would have in Edinburgh, going away for five days instead of three.

“The cost of food and drink in Bulgaria is much cheaper too. A burger and chips on the beach was less than a Big Mac meal at McDonalds in the UK. It was a no-brainer”. 

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Rome is a surprisingly budget city, with plenty of people-watching, relaxed streets, cheap pasta and Prosecco for £2[/caption]

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Amsterdam is a laid-back city with lots to see and plenty of lovely cafes and bars that won’t bust the budget[/caption]

So, grab your passport. If you fancy a few days in the sun, here are five great deals to European cites you can nab now for less than the £200 return fare from London to Edinburgh.

Rome

Rome is one of the most interesting, romantic and historic cities in the world, so a cheap break here would suit couples, friendship groups and even families. 

A wander around this city is an attraction in itself, with historic sites such as the Colosseum, Vittoria and Pantheon, all free to view from the street.

If you do want to go inside the Colosseum, the entry free is £15. Buy your tickets from an official seller in advance and jump the lengthy lines for tickets.

For lunch, grab a seat outside Pizzeria della Madonna dei Monti, which is just a short walk from the Colosseum. Here, a large pizza slice is only £5 and it’s a prime position for people watching.

Summer is a great time to visit Rome as every year there are free movie screenings in various locations around the city called il Cinema in Piazza (Cinema in the square).

Pick up a £2 Prosecco from various hole-in-the-wall bars and find a spot in front of the screen. There are a range of films being shown this year, from old classics to new releases.

This deal is £30 less than a return to Edinburgh, and includes return flights on Ryanair from Manchester and two nights in a 3-star hotel with a rooftop pool, for £171 per person. Book with travelsupermarket.com.

Amsterdam

A stroll alongside Amsterdam’s picturesque canals is stunning in summer, with open-air cafes, a choice of parks and gardens and attractions such as the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank’s House.

For one of the best free things to do in Amsterdam, head to Rijksmuseum, a museum with stunning gardens, sculptures and lots of pretty places to grab some shade.

Mexican tacos might not sound very Dutch, but the street food vendor, Taco Lindo just went viral online for its tasty £4.50 tacos.

This is a hot spot for a cheap bite during your visit – but prepare to queue as there is usually a line.

Stay two nights at the four-star Zaan Hotel, which has a delightfully Dutch exterior and is situated in the charming area of The Zaanse Schans.

This residential neighbourhood is lined with traditional wooden buildings that have been preserved for historical heritage. With this deal from travelsupermarket.com, you get two nights with return flights from London Luton, from £188 per person.

Barcelona

Laid back, foodie Barcelona is one of the best Spanish cities for an easy weekend break.

The main areas are mostly pedestrianised with stunning architecture and historic landmarks easily viewed free of charge from the outside.

Avoid La Rambla, which is always overrun with tourists and head to the Gothic Quarter.

If you want to venture inside but not pay the big tourist prices to enter landmarks like Sagrada Familia, step into La Catedral for free most mornings and marvel at the magnificent hand, sculpted interior.

Plus, Spain’s tapas culture means you can snack on cheap small plates all day, with some bars offering free food when you buy a drink. The glasses of £3 Cava are also worth toasting too.

Here you will find cute cafes hidden in shady alleyways, locally-owned shops and stunning Medieval buildings, many of which are open and free for the public to pop in and have a peek.

A stay at the three-star Ramblas Hotel, right in the centre of the action, with return flights from Leeds Bradford are only £198 per person with travelsupermarket.com.

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You have to pay to enter major landmarks, like Sagrada Família, but Barcelona has beautiful architecture all over the city that you can admire for free[/caption]

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Zante is one of the best budget options for the Greek islands, so look out for last-minute offers from companies like TUI and travelsupermarket.com[/caption]

Zante, Greek Islands

Zante has some beautiful beaches and is far more affordable than some of the more trendy Greek islands like Santorini and Mykonos.

Navagio Beach, known more commonly as Shipwreck Beach, is one of the most beautiful and interesting in the area.

As well as white sand and crystal clear water, this beautiful bay has a huge, rusting shipwreck grounded in the middle of the beach.

Not your usual Greek-Island view, but kids will be fascinated.

Zakynthos Town is made up of winding, cobbled streets and hanging bougainvillea, making it as picture-perfect as the more boujee islands but with a budget price tag.

For example, local favourite, Ladolémono, in the town has a BBQ grill and outdoor tables serving huge chicken and salad gyros for £3.

This is a great deal! For the same as the fare to Edinburgh, this deal with TUI offers return flights and a whopping seven nights in the two-star Mojo Hotel for £200. The hotel has its own bar and even a resident DJ.

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If you just want to get away, take advantage of Lanzarote’s great weather and even better deals[/caption]

Lanzarote

The Canary Islands almost guarantee sun and fun, especially at this time of year. Whether you want the beach, water-sports or a few days to party, Lanzarote has a little something for everyone. 

For a day trip to see a more authentic side to the Canary Islands, you can get a 25-minute ferry to La Graciosa, the smallest inhabited Canary Island, from only £14.

There are no cars on the island but it’s easy to explore.

The golden-sand beaches here are pristine. Make your way to Playa del Salado for lunch. The fresh seafood from tiny cafes that line the beach is probably better than Scotland’s deep-fried Mars bar. Just.

For £20 less than the train to Edinburgh, you can stay three nights at the THB Flora Hotel in Puerto del Carmen, which has two pools and a family splash park.

Plus, it’s a few minutes’ walk from the beach and the old town harbour, which has a strip of cute tavernas and bars that become very lively from mid-afternoon. Book with teletextholidays.co.uk for only £179.

A WOMAN has lost her arm in a horror lion attack at a zoo while she watched the keepers at work.

Emergency services scrambled to Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, Australia, on Sunday following reports that a woman in her 50s had been mauled by the deadly cat.

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A woman has lost her arm in a horror lion attack[/caption]

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Emergency services scrambled to Darling Downs Zoo[/caption]

It’s understood the woman – who was known to zoo staff – lost her arm in the horror attack.

She was flown to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital and is in a stable condition.

The zoo explained in a statement posted to social media that the woman had been observing keepers when the terrifying incident unfolded.

It said: “Inexplicably, at this stage, one animal grabbed her by one arm and caused severe damage to it.

“At no stage did this animal leave its enclosure and there was no risk at all to staff members or members of the public.

“Police and Workplace Health and Safety personnel are investigating this incident and have been onsite all morning.

“The zoo is working with them to establish how this incident occurred but the full details will not be known until [the woman] can be interviewed.”

More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.

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MORE than five million people tuned in to watch Emma Raducanu’s incredible Wimbledon battle with Aryna Sabalenka on Friday night.

Located in a prime time slot on BBC One, the match received the Beeb’s third-highest ratings for any non-final contest in the last three years, and the most of the this tournament so far.

Shutterstock Editorial

Emma Raducanu’s battle with Aryna Sabalenka was watched by more than five million people[/caption]

The enthralling contest, which saw world No1 Sabalenka narrowly beat British favourite Raducanu 7-6 6-4, was watched by a peak audience of 5.32 million.

Raducanu’s brilliant third round effort also received more than 1.2 million streaming requests on BBC iPlayer.

The most watched non-final match of the last four years at Wimbledon was Raducanu’s fourth round with Lulu Sun last year, which peaked at 5.47 million viewers.

Second was Andy Murray’s battle with John Isner back in 2022, which peaked at 5.34 million.

This year’s tournament has already been a smash hit with viewers watching at home.

Across the first five days of the tournament, the BBC received more than 31 million online streaming requests.

This was a more than 50 per cent increase on last year’s numbers.

Raducanu’s three matches drew incredible interest from British fans, with Friday night in particular played in front of a raucous Centre Court crowd.

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The Times

Andy Murray’s 2022 battle with John Isner was also a smash hit with viewers[/caption]

The Times

Raducanu was beaten by Lulu Sun in front of a huge TV audience last year[/caption]

Fans have also been enamoured by matches involving fellow Brits Sonay Kartal and Cameron Norrie – as well as former champions Carlos Alcaraz and of course, Novak Djokovic.

Raducanu took the positives from her defeat on Friday night, even though she was naturally disappointed.

The British No1 said: “It does give me confidence because I think the problem before was that I felt like I was gulfs away from the very top.

“Having a match like that where I had chances in both sets, it does give me confidence.

“At the same time, it’s very difficult to take right now.”

After the match, Sabalenka tipped Raducanu to return to the top 10.

Expanding on that assessment during her press conference, the Belarusian added: “I cannot predict anything, but I’m definitely sure that, maybe not in a month, but maybe a bit longer period, she’s definitely going to get back to the top.

“She’s fighting. She’s playing much better. She’s more consistent. I can see that mentally she’s healthy. I think that’s really important. I’m pretty sure she’s getting there.

“About the atmosphere… sometimes my ears were really blocked from how loud it was, but I really enjoyed it.

“I was trying to trick my brain, and I was pretending that people were cheering for me. Sometimes when they were screaming ‘Emma’, it sounded like Aryna.”

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Aryna Sabalenka tipped Raducanu to return to the top of the sport[/caption]

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL gave fans an inside look at he and his wife Amy Huberman’s “brilliant day” at Wimbledon.

O’Driscoll and Huberman were among the celebrity names at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Saturday.

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And they turned out in style, with Amy donning a stunning pink floral dress from Férí worth up to €400 while also carrying a bag from Peelo.

BOD, meanwhile, looked dapper in a beige suit with white shirt and blue tie.

As well as watching Novak Djokovic beat fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, the Ireland rugby legend also met another sports great.

He shared a photo of him with Ian Botham: England cricket international who was part of sides that got to two World Cup finals.

Botham – also known as Beefy – also played professional football with Yeovil Town and Scunthorpe United.

Alongside that pic and a number of others from the day, the ex-Leinster centre said: “Always a brilliant day @wimbledon with this beauty. *my wife not Beefy but he’s a delight too“

Huberman, meanwhile, also shared a pic from the day alongside an explainer of both of their outfits.

She said: “Don’t tell him the invite to Sportsperson Saturday @wimbledon might have been down to my hard earned bronze medal in the sac race during sports day in 4th class.

“Dress Irish @ferifolk, Bag Irish @iampeelo and husband also locally sourced in Ireland.”

The headline act on Saturday was Novak Djokovic, who has won Wimbledon seven times.

He is just one shy of tying Roger Federer (eight) as the male player with the most tournament titles.

But on his run to the 2024 final, where he lost a second successive final to Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic marked each win with a signature move.

Djokovic, 38, placed the frame of his racquet under his chin and held the handle out, pretending to play the violin.

The dad-of-two revealed the 2024 celebration was dedicated to his daughter Tara who had recently taken up violin lessons.

This year, though, the No6 seed has mixed things up.

FAMILY MAN

After beating Alexandre Muller in round one and then Dan Evans in round two, he has performed a quick dance.

Djokovic pumps his arms and hands down, left, right and up while looking towards his box, including his wife Jelena and their two children.

Once again, it is a classy touch for his kids – Stefan, ten, and Tara, seven.

Djokovic explained: “It’s something between me and my children.

“We have a song, it’s called ‘Pump It Up’.

“I don’t know how many of you guys know that.

“It’s quite an old song. Good rhythm.

“So yeah, we’re pumping. We love pumping.

“We pump after every win. I don’t know the name of the artist. ‘Don’t you know, pump it up, you got to pump it up’. Disco song.”

SCORES of deadly wild animals, including lions, crocodiles and venomous snakes, are being kept as pets by Brits in their homes. 

Many have been bought online via social media ads or on Gumtree, and current legislation does not require an owner to have any training on how to handle them in a lot cases.

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Reece Oliver, who showed off his pet lions at Strelley Wildlife Conservation Facility in ITV documentary series Britain’s Tiger Kings[/caption]

Gumtree

A Gumtree advert showing pythons for sale in London for £400[/caption]

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Hybrid Savannah cats are becoming more popular due to social media infleuncers[/caption]

And while some more regulated set ups, aside from traditional zoos, house such animals, including Heythrop Zoological Garden or the Strelley Wildlife Conservation Facility in Nottingham, a large number on the list are kept at people’s homes.

The latest figures, from 2023, show 2,700 such “dangerous” creatures – and which require a licence to keep – were officially registered at 187 private addresses across 126 local authorities in the UK.

That includes a dozen lions, 11 pumas, and 16 different types of crocodile, including a saltwater croc, which can grow up to 20ft, in North Yorkshire.

“Hybrid” beasts, including from breeding a domestic cat with an exotic wild feline, are growing in popularity thanks to social media influencers, with a “loophole” meaning many don’t even need a licence.

There’s also a rising trend of Brits realising they can’t cope and abandoning such animals, in part due to the cost of living crisis and Covid pandemic.

And some species – either let go or escaped – have gone on to thrive in the UK, creating colonies that challenge native wildlife. 

Chris Lewis, captivity research manager for Born Free, told The Sun: “In terms of the current legislative landscape within the UK, it’s legal to keep pretty much any wild animal as a pet… it’s largely unregulated.” 

Asked what sort of person is keeping a creature considered a “dangerous” exotic predator, like a big cat or deadly snake, he said: “Some would suggest it’s a status symbol or an adrenaline-fuelled purchase.

“They may have kept other wild animals in the past, but then they wanted something which was increasingly more challenging.”

He continued: “Some people feel a connection to those animals. Others feel like they are perhaps rescuing that animal from wherever they got it from, and also sometimes keepers feel that by keeping those animals they are in some way helping with the conservation of that species. 

“However, those claims are highly questionable, and they are hard to justify.”

The most popular deadly exotic beast for such Brits is the rattlesnake, with more than 70 of the venomous species, which hails from the Americas, registered on these shores.

But perhaps most worrying is that the majority, if not all, will not have been defanged and so can still kill someone within a matter of hours if a bite goes untreated.

Chris said: “What can happen is sometimes the teeth can be removed that are used by the snake to inject the venom, but that’s commonly seen as a violation of their welfare.

“So I would say that in this country, the majority, if not all of privately kept venomous snakes would still be capable of injecting their venom.” 

A venomous snake would be kept in a highly-secure, regulated tank, and for obvious reasons, it can’t be taken out and petted.

Chris says it’s possible that some of these private owners operate as some kind of business, perhaps offering training on handling these snakes – though that’s not the case for the majority.

He said legislation is patchy in the UK, with “no real requirement” for an owner to have “any training in how to care or look after these animals”.

Chris explained: “There’s a small number of species categorised as dangerous, which you require a license to keep – venomous snakes, lions, for example. 

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There are currently 12 lions registered at private residences in the UK[/caption]

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Rattlesnakes are among the most popular dangerous exotic pets registered in this country[/caption]

“For the rest, it’s largely unregulated. You can keep whatever you want, so there’s nothing illegal about what people are doing but it raises questions as to whether the current landscape is fit for purpose.” 

Earlier this year, 32-year-old Ashley Betts claimed he didn’t know a Dangerous Wild Animals (DWA) licence was needed to keep exotic creatures after police discovered a 4ft American alligator called Cliff in a tank in his garden in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

He pleaded guilty to breaching the Dangerous Wild Animals Act at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court in March.

And while the court heard there was “no suggestion” that the animal was being kept poorly or was unsafe to other people, Betts – who was fined £1,000 – refused to reveal where he’d got Cliff from, other than through a friend.

The trade for such animals is booming, and over the last two decades the ease of access has greatly increased, particularly online, said Chris. 

“In the past you either had to know somebody or a pet shop near you had to stock the animal that you were wanting to keep,” he explained. 

“But now people can go online, they can search for whatever it is that they’re wanting to keep or acquire, and there will, in the vast majority of cases, be somebody somewhere online selling that animal.” 

Chris went on to say: “In terms of the current legislative landscape within the UK, it’s legal to keep pretty much any wild animal as a pet. 

“There are only a very few exceptions to that, and those would be species which are considered to be invasive.”

An invasive species would be a non-native species that has colonised a new area to the point of damaging the surrounding environment.

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Ashley Betts was found to be keeping an alligator at his home in Rotherham (stock image)[/caption]

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Seven king cobras are registered at a private address in the UK[/caption]

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Wolves are also among those on the registered list[/caption]

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), tackling invasive species costs the UK roughly £1.8billon per year globally.

But such invasive animals aren’t the beasts on the dangerous animals list that people need a licence to own: they’re green crabs, killer algae, sea walnuts, lionfish and Pacific oysters.

So, the growing trend of keeping dangerous animals from abroad at your home in Britain isn’t necessarily contributing to overall environmental damage – but there is still an issue of these animals getting out.

Born Free estimated in the first nine months of 2021 there were at least 25 cases of escaped or abandoned exotic pets in Britain.

In September of that year, two reticulated pythons – each around 10ft long – were found in the Cambridgeshire countryside.

An article on the charity’s website said “despite their size and strength”, the large constrictor snakes, which are “for sale online, at reptile markets and in pet shops across the country”, are not included within the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. 

It added: “As such, no licence is required to keep them, even though they are categorised under zoo legislation as being likely to cause severe injury or pose a severe threat to life.”

The article went on to describe cases in recent years of escaped marmosets in Oxfordshire, wallabies in Cornwall, Savannah cats in Bristol and raccoon dogs in Nottinghamshire.

One woman told The Sun her neighbour was startled after finding a large shedded python skin in her back garden in Hampshire in 2022.

Chris said the increase in abandoned animals coincided with the Covid pandemic lockdown.

“The general theme for people was that it was being blamed on cost of living, and that they purchased these animals either before lockdown or during lockdown. 

“Then the price of looking after those animals either increased, because, particularly with reptiles, you have to provide heating and perhaps humidity control, but also lighting as well, which are all energy consumers, and cost money.” 

He went on to say: “All of these animals are too easy to purchase. You can spontaneously buy them with very little thought as to whether you are prepared to look after them in the long term. 

“Many of these animals live for 10, or maybe over 20 years, so they are an incredibly long term commitment. 

“When people realise how much they cost to look after, or realise they may need to move house, or their circumstances in life change it can often result in the animals being either abandoned, or people wanting to surrender those animals because they no longer can either look after them or want them anymore.”

Chris said most exotic animals are unlikely to survive in the wilds of the UK for long, so the prospect of people being stalked by pythons on their dog walks in the wilds of the Cotswolds are unlikely.

“There was no evidence of exotic snakes being able to survive in the UK,” he explained. 

“So whilst they may survive for a short period in the summer, as soon as the weather changes and the temperatures drop, those animals sadly die. 

“They require heat to maintain themselves, so in contrast to native snake species who go into almost a sort of hibernation state, these snakes don’t do that. 

“They’re active all year round. People may abandon them in the summer, thinking that they will be capable of surviving, but when it comes to winter they would die, sadly.” 

There are, however, some examples of such exotic animals, not necessarily dangerous to humans, thriving in the UK after being introduced here.

There was no evidence of exotic snakes being able to survive in the UK. So whilst they may survive for a short period in the summer, as soon as the weather changes and the temperatures drop, those animals sadly die.

Chris Lewiscaptivity research manager for Born Free

Born Free wrote that the chance that escaped raccoon dogs could “establish themselves in the British countryside in the coming decade is considered high”, and “if it came about there could be devastating consequences for our native wildlife”.

Chris said recent examples of exotic animals that are believed to have been kept as pets before being freed and establishing themselves on British shores, include “instances of small populations” of wallabies but “it’s unclear where their exact source came from”.  

He said: “Sometimes people say they maybe escaped from a zoo, or sometimes they’ll say that they were pets that were released.” 

The other example is the ringnecked parakeets, which can be found in London, as well as having established colonies in a few other UK cities. 

“They’re one of the most common recent examples, where they were believed to have been kept as pets and then released, and they established themselves,” said Chris. 

“It’s still unclear exactly what or if any damage they are causing to the native species, because obviously they will be competing with native birds for nesting space and also for food. But it’s unclear exactly what impact they’re having at the moment.”

Chris explained that many exotic pets traded in the UK are bred in captivity here, while generally only reptiles are still regularly caught in the wild.

Savannah cats

And another growing trend is the cross-breeding of exotic animals, particularly “hybrid wildcats”, including the Savannah cat, which has become popular recently due to social media influencers.

These are a hybrid of a domesticated cat and a serval, and a first generation one is illegal to own without a DWA licence.

“They’re considered to be a step up from your common domestic cat, because they’re bigger, they’re quite striking in appearance and have featured in a number of online videos with influencers or celebrities. 

“So they are considered to be a fashionable pet, I guess,” said Chris.

“Once you get into the second generation of Savannah cats, you then don’t need a license anymore, which I think helps with their appeal and also that raises questions as to whether that’s even appropriate because you have this animal, which is only two generations away from its wild parents, and you suddenly don’t need a license for it yet… 

“It is quite bizarre, almost a bit of a loophole with the licensing.”

Chris said he would encourage people to remember that the domestication of cats and dogs occurred over the thousands of years over multiple generations. 

“To assume that an animal after just two generations is suitable and capable of being kept adequately in a domestic environment within the UK is perhaps not appropriate, not advisable,” he continued. 

“And any hybridisation of two species which are so noticeably different because the breeding of a domestic cat and a wild cat can be filled with welfare issues for the animals involved. 

“I would strongly advise against anyone wanting to purchase a Savannah cat.” 

Chris said he kept exotic animals as a child but eventually was put off keeping such pets, as well as the idea of zoos themselves, when he learned more about the wild animal trade. 

“You kind of realise that it’s perhaps not the most appropriate thing to do, and also not in the best interest of those animals that you’re keeping. 

But when you’re younger it’s seen as something which you can do like… it’s something which is almost a cultural norm, which is perhaps something which we need to change. 

“Ultimately, in most cases we’re doing it for our own, you know our own personal interests, and perhaps not putting the interests of the animal at the forefront of what we’re doing.”

He went on to say, referring to zoos: “What benefit do people get from seeing these animals when they’re being kept in conditions which aren’t natural to them, and they may not be performing natural behaviors?

“You’re just learning about what the animal is like when it’s kept in captivity and they may be two very different things.”

Chris believes the UK needs to “flip the legislative landscape on its head”.

“A number of European countries have adopted a system called a permitted list system. 

“What that does is it builds a set of criteria to assess whether animals are suitable to being kept in a captive environment.” 

That includes whether they a threat to conservation or a risk to humans.

“Only species which meet all of those criteria are added to the list,” continued Chris. 

“It means that there can be more attention given to the specific needs of those animals, so people could be better educated and more well informed of how to look after them.”

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Do you know more? Email ryan.merrifield@thesun.co.uk

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