Zeus the snake is to take a starring role in a millennium carnival when he sets spectators a challenge: are you brave enough to give me a cuddle?

The boa constrictor will take part in Witney Carnival this weekend thanks to pet shop owner Graham Mills. "He is very friendly really, even though he's rather large," said Graham, whose Intpets shop is holding a pet show as part of the fun. The Intpets shop in Witney's Corn Street is staging a dog and pets show as part of the fun at the Carnival arena.

Zeus is being brought out for the day by Lucy Odley, partner of Intpets shop assistant Tony Bradley, and will be posing for photographs with spectators brave enough to handle him.