SNAKES will be slithering their way into Whitehaven in a wild new museum exhibition this summer.

The Beacon Museum will launch its hotly-anticipated new exhibition on Saturday July 8, featuring interactive displays, fun games and fascinating specimens.

From huge Burmese pythons to vibrantly-coloured milk snakes and the fearsome anaconda, Snakes will offer a rare opportunity to discover how these amazing creatures live.

There will also be live snake-handling sessions held on Saturdays throughout the exhibition - although the display itself will not contain wild animals - and a Sneaky Snakes and Ladders discovery game.

Magda Jackson, a visitor host at The Beacon, said: "This is a simple and fun game that is aimed at younger kids and families. Roll the dice and discover some weird and exciting facts about our snakes around the museum as you try to find our ladders at the top."

The museum is owned by Copeland Council. Councillor Mark Holliday, portfolio holder for The Beacon, said: "It's another major coup for The Beacon to attract such a high-quality exhibition. I'm sure it will prove hugely popular for young and old alike."

Snakes runs from July 8 to September 6. Meet the Snakes handling sessions take place three times daily (12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm) on July 8, 15, 22, August 2, 12, 26, and September 2 in The Beacon Portal.