WORKERS at a logistics company in Thurrock had a surprise when they discovered six geckos had stowed away in a storage container from overseas.

RSPCA inspector Prisca Giddens was called to a logistics company in Stanford-le-Hope after workers opened a container that had come in from abroad to find a number of geckos darting around inside.

"They had quite the shock when they spotted the little geckos running around inside the container, but this actually happens fairly regularly!" Prisca said.

"We're called out hundreds of times a year to collect stow away animals who have travelled into the country in storage containers, fruit and veg shipments, and even holiday-makers' suitcases!

"We're usually called out to little geckos like these guys but we've also picked up snakes, spiders, frogs, crabs and even scorpions!"

The callers managed to contain the geckos in the container and Prisca caught them all and took them to South Essex Wildlife Hospital at Orsett for specialist care.

The RSPCA would always advise people to treat any unidentified animal with caution until identified accurately and not to try to handle an accidentally imported animal that has been discovered. Call the charity's emergency number on 0300 1234 999 for advice if you are ever in a similar situation.

The RSPCA will help thousands of animals in need this winter. To help the RSPCA continue rescuing animals like these geckos, visit [L+]https://www.rspca.org.uk/xmas [.L]. Donating £25 could help to keep an animal rescue team on the road.