The St Mark’s College student is an animal lover and has a pet snake, bearded dragon, birds, turtle and a dog.

Daniel’s Stimpsons python is the centrepiece of his “mini zoo”. The creature is only a metre long.

It is a replacement for his last snake that escaped in his house and was never found. Daniel has always had an interest in reptiles and says he would be interested in a career in zoo keeping or as a vet later on in life.

Mum Trish says of the reptiles: “You get used to them. It is a different pet.

“He has always taken an interest in them and always looks after them.”

She also said Daniel “did ask for a bigger snake, one that was almost four metres long”, but she put her foot down.