There were some unusual stowaways in a shipping container that arrived in Essex just before Christmas.

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

RSPCA inspector Prisca Giddens was called to the logistics company in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, on Friday, 18 December, after the 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."

Staff at the logistics firm managed to keep the geckos in the container. Prisca then caught them all and took them to South Essex Wildlife Hospital 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. If in any doubt you can call the charity's emergency number on 0300 1234 999 for advice.

To help the RSPCA continue rescuing animals like these geckos you can donate to the charity via the link here.