A wildlife centre has welcomed a new addition to the family – a 3ft tegu lizard called Teggy.

The three-year-old female lizard has taken up residence at the Ponderosa Rural Therapeutic Centre in Heckmondwike.

Wild tegus, which originate from South America, are known to have a friendly temperament to humans, can grow up to four-and-a-half foot long and live for up to 20 years.

Ponderosa manager Debbie Burton said: “She’s a new addition to the family.

“She’s settling in really well and getting handled regularly and she walks around the reptile room twice a day.

“She’s proving really popular because she’s quite big – she’s about 3ft long and she’s in a low tank so children can see her quite easily.

“She’s really friendly – she walks up to the glass when people come and see her.

“She’s about three years old and she has been hand-reared, that’s why she is so friendly.”