SNAKE man and television celebrity Mark O'Shea has slithered back into the spotlight at West Midland Safari Park to introduce some weird and wonderful reptiles.

Mark - who is consultant curator of reptiles at the Bewdley-based park - is presenting four educational Reptile Encounter slots daily on a stage in its purpose-built reptile house.

During the series of encounters, the star of Channel Four's O'Shea's Dangerous Reptiles will show visitors snakes from all over the world, including boas and pythons - as well as other reptiles such as snapping turtles and chameleons.

If the weather is fine, people may also have a chance to encounter venomous snakes such as cobras and rattlesnakes.

Mark will also be available to answer questions about reptiles, chat about his films and expeditions and will also have some of his Dorling Kindersley Reptile and Amphibian Handbooks available for sale and for signing.

Mark has held his position at West Midland Safari Park since 1987 and has sought out snakes and other reptiles from Borneo to Brazil, Nepal to New Caledonia, Sri Lanka to South Africa and the Philippines to Patagonia.

He has also travelled to Papua New Guinea to capture and milk venomous snakes as part of an Oxford University/ Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine co-ordinated snakebite project.

Mark has recently returned from fieldwork in South Africa and will shortly depart for a US tour to launch his new book, so will only be present at West Midland Safari Park in August.

The Reptile Encounters will take place at 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 3.30pm and 4.30pm daily until Sunday, August 21. The usual admission charges will apply.