Florida parties cause a stir

Children in Florida are being offered the chance to swim with alligators at their birthday parties.

Bob Barrett, who runs Alligator Attraction in Tampa Bay, decided to start running Gator Parties for children when business became slow last summer, and he says its popularity is spreading fast.

For $175 (£100), Barrett and his staff will attend children's pool parties with alligators four feet long or smaller. He says the gators' mouths are bound shut throughout the party and the participants hear a list of safety precautions, such as no pulling or chasing the gator, beforehand.

The parties are causing some stir since they have become largely publicised, with worries that either an alligator or a person will get hurt.

A spokesperson for The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said: "It's not something that we encourage," however, they have confirmed that Barrett isn't doing anything illegal.

Barrett commented: "What we're here for is to educate and show [people] that reptiles are not as bad as everybody says. Everybody loves having the gator pool parties."

Alligator Attraction is home to around 50 rescued alligators, as well as turtles and fish, and is open to the public.