The founder of an animal sanctuary, which is now caring for the royal pythons, has called for improved laws to protect reptiles reared as pets

The founder of an animal rescue charity who discovered 70 starving pythons and dozens of dead snakes on a couple’s property near Durham has called for better laws to protect reptiles reared as pets.

Daniel Holmes, of Knaresborough Exotic Rescue, said the condition of the snakes – some of whom he thinks had not been fed for a year – was so poor that it made him and a fellow volunteer break down in tears after the rescue.