AN alligator which has lived most of its life in the garden of a Bury house is today starting a new life in Spain.

Samson, a 6ft Mississippi alligator, has been transported with the assistance of the RSPCA to Terra Exotica, a crocodile and alligator park near Seville.

Samson's previous owner, who the RSPCA has refused to name, bought him as a ten-inch hatchling 27 years ago, and legally imported him from the USA.

Since then, the reptile has lived in a purpose-built facility attached to the conservatory of the man's home. Tighter legislation introduced since the 1970s has made it more difficult to import such animals.

However the owner, who holds the necessary licences to keep the alligator, contacted the RSPCA when he realised Samson's needs were becoming too great to cope with.

Chief Inspector Terry Spamer, part of the charity's special operations unit, used his extensive contacts and found a new home for the alligator at Terra Exotica.

Samson was transported on Saturday in a vehicle supplied free of charge by Burnt Tree Vehicle Hire, based near Shrewsbury.

P&O Portsmouth offered a free ferry journey from Portsmouth to Le Havre and Samson completed his journey by road through France to Spain.

Chief Inspector Spamer said: "The man approached us after he realised that Samson still has many years left in him.

"Mississippi alligators commonly live for about 80 years. Samson has got a lot of growing and developing to do and the owner realised that he would not be able to provide the necessary facilities to meet Samson's future requirements.

"This case is a graphic example demonstrating that exotic animals do not make good pets.

"The RSPCA rescues about 3,700 abandoned and unwanted exotic animals, including snakes and lizards, every year.

"It can be very difficult to find suitable homes for them. Thankfully, in this case, the RSPCA was able to help and Samson should now live quite happily at Terra Exotica, where he will spend at least eight months of the year outside and basking in the sunshine."