BASILDON Zoo once held all sorts of weird and wonderful creatures.

The Zoo, based in London Road, Vange and was home to a range of mammals, birds and reptiles and the zoo originally opened in 1973.

Families, schools and animal lovers alike would spend days and hours staring at fascinating creatures from slippery snakes to roaring lions.

There was something for all animal enthusiasts such as scaly monitor lizards, brightly coloured and noisy parrots and even cheeky monkeys.

Families and children would spend great days out at the zoo and they were even treated to meet and greet sessions.

People could hold and interact with their favourite creatures and perhaps even face some fears.

And it wasn’t just exotic animals and creatures on display at Basildon Zoo, there was even a miniature railway for train enthusiasts.

So called train spotters would spend just as long watching the intricate train sets steam around the site as young children would watching the lions.

In 2001 the zoo closed its gates for the last time as it had faced complaints and protesters about the conditions of the animals at the zoo.

A pet shop and garden centre still remain on the site.