After the discovery of a toy crocodile sent people reeling thinking it was real (including us, briefly) we've sought to answer the question - could a crocodile survive in Worcester?

While the croc in the substation in Sydney Street, Barbourne turned out to be a (very realistic) toy, we wanted to know if a crocodile would be able to live wild in Worcester.

Could we see a crocodile swimming past South Quay or wandering down the High Street?

Expert Colin Stevenson, head of education at Crocodiles of the World in Brize Norton, has all the answers.

Though we have some wonderful wildlife in Worcester, sadly it does not look like we will be welcoming any wild crocs soon.

According to Colin, the reptiles would not be able to last long on the city streets or in the river Severn.

"Even in the warmest UK weather, it’s chilly for a crocodile," he said.

"There have been crocs and gators released in the UK. We have one here that was found in a reservoir in Bristol.

READ MORE: Mystery solved of "dead crocodile" found in Worcester

"It wouldn’t have been in the reservoir long before capture.

"If an alligator survived the summer months, it would start to decline in autumn and die by early winter.

"A larger animal, that is, one potentially capable of giving a nasty bite, would not survive long at all before being seen and captured or dying.

"Crocodiles find seclusion in the water. Even now, the waters here in the UK are not crocodile-friendly.

"There is no threat to UK people by crocs ‘surviving in the wild’ over here."

Western Power Distribution has confirmed it was a toy after an engineer visited the substation today (Monday) following a call from Worcester News.

However, Colin said there was no way a real crocodile would have been able to have climbed up the transformer.

"If it had been real, it would have been put there.

"An escaped ‘pet’ wouldn’t go far in this country as it is too cold and too busy.

"It couldn’t have gotten into the position in the photo by itself anyway.

"If it had been a dead crocodile, it would have definitely been placed there deliberately by someone.

"They can climb along angled branches from the ground or water, and even over small chain link fences when smaller, but climbing into the position in the photo, impossible."

You rest easy Worcester.