Budding naturalists were on the hunt for reptiles at Holywells Park in Ipswich on Monday - but the elusive animals proved too shy to make an appearance.

Fortunately Wildlife Ranger David Dowding was on hand, bringing with him a baby grass snake and a collection of slow worms so the enthusiastic youngsters could come face-to-face with the cold-blooded creatures.

The free Wild Parks: Snakes Alive! event, aimed at eight to 14-year-olds, was part of Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Closer to Nature programme which seeks to get children excited about the natural world, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Organiser Susannah O’Riordan, Education Ranger Ipswich, said: “Reptiles are quite shy, especially with a big group of people around, and tend to stay out of your way.

“In the summer they get active earlier in the day so may have moved off. They are quite elusive creatures.

“The group really enjoyed the day. Lots had never heard of a grass snake or slow worm before.

“Some of them were so excited they wanted to take them home with them.”