Giant cockroach craze goes up in smoke

Thai officials have incinerated more than 200 giant African cockroaches after confiscating the banned insects from a pet shop.

Keeping the Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches as pets had become a fad in Bangkok, and they were widely sold for about 75p each.

But they were outlawed last August over fears they could carry germs that cause diarrhoea, lung infections and inflammation of brain membranes.

The insects, which grow up to 2.5 inches long, get their name from the noise they makes during mating rituals.

It is not known how and when the first imports were brought to Thailand from their native Madagascar.

The 218 cockroaches burned were first knocked out with an insecticide.

They were confiscated from a pet shop owner, who was fined the equivalent of £75.

© Associated Press