Giant python babysits for boy, 13

A Chinese family has raised eyebrows with their choice of babysitter for their 13-year-old son - a 15ft giant python.

Azhe Liu, from Dongguan, Guangdong province, was born six years after his dad Chan Liu brought home a python egg and hatched it out.

"I'd always thought them the most beautiful creatures and I was interested to see what would happen when my son came along," explained Chan.

Instead of being frightened, Azhe would often cuddle up to the cold-blooded 220lbs predator, finding comfort in his cooling coils on hot summer days.

"After a while we were certain the snake wouldn't hurt him and we began to leave them together alone. They really are inseperable," said dad Chan.

Eventually the family began to look on the Burmese python as a kind of nanny, who'd look out for their son when he was alone.

"I don't think many kidnappers would tangle with her," said dad Chan.

Now Azhe wants to train as a zoologist so he can work with snakes all the time.

"She's very careful with me and never squeezes to hard. If people understood animals more they'd be kinder to each other," he said.