Nearly 200 entries were received for Clifton Down shopping centre's competition to name a snake.

A two-year-old 6ft long reticulated python was given the name Prince by young Joseph Murphy who lives in Drake Road, Ashton who wins a £25 voucher to spend in the centre's WHSmith store.

Joseph's entry was the first drawn from the box which contained all the suggested names for the snake which belongs to Animal Antics who gave a display of exotic creatures during the school Easter holidays.

The draw was made by Craig Gilmour, from Animal Antics, who is seen with Prince picking the winner from the box of entries held by Chris Collinson from Clifton Down shopping centre.

SHOPPERS GET UP CLOSE AND

HANDLE EXOTIC CREATURES

IN THE SHOPPING CENTRE

- See pictures on our News Page

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There's more entertainment in Clifton Down shopping centre on April 13 (between 10am – 4pm) when the ever popular Animal Antics returns to the centre.

John Conlan will be in the centre circle with his exotic creepie crawlies, including snakes, lizards, spiders and centipedes and many more.

Youngsters enjoy getting up really close and holding them and mums and dads are able to take some unusual snaps shots.

John explains all about the habits and habitats of his 'pets' so it's an educational day as well as being first class entertainment.

One of John's snakes is a 'snake with no name' and he'd be delighted is someone could come up with something appropriate.

If your suggestion is chosen who could win a £25 voucher to spend in Clifton Down.

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Clifton Down shopping centre hit the headlines when Top Gear’s ex-Stig was pictured outside the mall in Whiteladies Road.

Ben Collins, who is best known as the white-suited former Stig on the BBC TV show motoring programme, is one of many road users complaining of problems since the pavements were widened at a pedestrian crossing.

Bristol-based Ben, pictured right, appeared on the front page of the Bristol Post protesting about the work which is part of the £78m Greater Bristol Bus Network project to improve 10 bus routes across Greater Bristol.

The Stig said: “The changes are hideous. The pavement was wide enough before. Now what you’ve got is a bottleneck which is causing huge traffic jams – it’s a choke point and it’s horrendous. Only a non-motorist could possibly have designed it. It really is moronic."

Greater Bristol Bus Network’s transport director Peter Mann said: “The aim is to improve bus reliability while reducing overall levels of traffic congestion. Many of the new measures not only benefit buses but also motorists, due to the new traffic signal technology that is designed to improve traffic flow.”

He said the pedestrian crossing had been made smaller to reduce the time traffic has to wait for people to cross.

Mark Wilmut, who manages the Clifton Colour photo shop in Clifton Down shopping centre, said: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The road didn’t need anything doing to it – what a waste of taxpayers’ money.”