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.

Echo: Playful pair- A pair of Lynx at Basildon Zoo 1991Playful pair- A pair of Lynx at Basildon Zoo 1991 (Image: Newsquest)

Echo: Bob Hands and Don Marshall with a camel in 1982Bob Hands and Don Marshall with a camel in 1982 (Image: Newsquest)

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.

Echo: Pugsley the Otter at Basildon Zoo in 1992Pugsley the Otter at Basildon Zoo in 1992 (Image: Newsquest)

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Echo: The Lion at Basildon Zoo in 1995The Lion at Basildon Zoo in 1995 (Image: Newsquest)

Echo: Darren Cockrill with a White Fronted Capuchin in 1991Darren Cockrill with a White Fronted Capuchin in 1991 (Image: Newsquest)

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.

Echo: New lion enclosure and lion at Basildon Zoo in 1985New lion enclosure and lion at Basildon Zoo in 1985 (Image: Newsquest)

Echo: Michelle Surcouf with Captain the Blue and Yellow Macaw in 1988Michelle Surcouf with Captain the Blue and Yellow Macaw in 1988 (Image: Newsquest)

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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.

By the 1990s the zoo was starting to lose its appeal and it closed its gates for good in November 2001 after failing to renew its licence.

Echo: Una the Lioness at the zoo in 1985Una the Lioness at the zoo in 1985 (Image: Newsquest)

The zoo had faced complaints and protests about the conditions of the animals at the zoo.

It has remained largely empty ever since and, in October, Basildon Council’s homes building firm Sempra Homes unveiled plans for nine homes on the former Basildon Zoo site.

Basildon Council will decide on the plans.

Echo: Michelle Surcouf with a Bengal Eagle 1992.Michelle Surcouf with a Bengal Eagle 1992. (Image: Newsquest)

Echo: Laura Sullivan with a Boa Constrictor in 1992Laura Sullivan with a Boa Constrictor in 1992 (Image: Newsquest)