Deadly venomous snakes, a beaded lizard and a zebra, are among the dangerous and wild animals local residents have asked permission to keep in the county.

Herefordshire Council has granted all three dangerous wild animal licence applications it has received during the last two years, a freedom of information request has revealed.

The list includes bush, white lip pit, green pit, Sri Lankan pit, brown spotted pit and long nosed vipers; plus a beaded lizard, pygmy rattlesnake, monocled cobras and a zebra.

The venom of a monocled cobra from south east Asia is considered one of the fastest acting in the world and can cause death in just an hour.

It is an offence for individuals to keep an animal covered by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 without a licence with the exemption of zoos, circuses and pet shops. The licence fee for 2018/19 is £254 plus vet fees.