A small population of alligators have been discovered in the popular resort of South Shields. Experts were called in when the police received several calls from worried locals. Dan Marshall of the Northumbrian Reptillian Centre said, 'this is very unusual. Alligators are normally only found in the southern states of the USA so to have our own animals in the north east is very exciting.' Asked if the reptiles are dangerous, Dan replied, 'Not really, they are in quite a marshy area in land from the beach and as long as people don't go paddling there should be no problems.'
