KEVIN Pearce can often be spotted walking his beloved pet around the streets of Southampton.

There's nothing unusual about that - unless the animal on the end of your lead is a 5ft 6in-long iguana.

Heads turn and cars stop in the street when they see Kevin walking the exotic animal, named Julian, down the street.

The 41-year-old spotted an advert for Julian in the Daily Echo classifieds.

"I saw someone was advertising an iguana but it didn't say how big it was.

"I went round to see it and I was amazed - I had to have it."

Just like any other pet, Julian needs fresh air and exercise.

But the sight of Kevin walking down the road with a giant iguana in tow has left the community bewildered.

"I was walking with Julian to the pet shop in Shirley the other day when a taxi driver pulled up," he explained.

"Julian was so still that he couldn't believe it was real.

"It was only when Julian moved his head that he realised that it was a real iguana."

Five-year-old Julian is a green iguana, indigenous to Central and South America but popular with pet owners in Britain for their apparent low costs.

And at 5ft 6in, Julian is hitting the top end in terms of size - green iguanas usually stop growing at about 5ft.

Green iguanas are vegetarian and Julian likes nothing more than to tuck into a salad or fruit.

Julian is a welcome addition to the Pearce family.

"I think it's great to have an unusual pet," Kevin said.

"It's not something you normally see around here and it's certainly not something people expect to see in your living room."