A MAN who keeps ants as pets has organised the world's biggest exhibition of the insects.

Thomas Doggett-Hill from Portland is holding an exhibition in Bristol later this month for ant enthusiasts.

Thomas, 31, of Courtlands Road, has had a interest in the tiny creatures since childhood and at the age of 18 decided to take the plunge and buy a farm for himself.

Bournemouth Echo: Thomas's set-up for youtube and his 'Ant Corner'. Picture: Ants On a RockThomas's set-up for youtube and his 'Ant Corner'. Picture: Ants On a Rock

He now owns more than 30 colonies personally, and cares for more than 100 as part of his business 'Ants On A Rock' (the rock being Portland).

Thomas began filming his ants for a YouTube channel 18 months ago and is soon to upload his 300th video.

He said he wants to start a 'pet revolution' by bringing ants and other unusual pets such as spiders and lizards, into the limelight.

He said: "Most people and kids have probably thought at some point that keeping ants and watching them dig a colony would be quite cool, and we want to harness that.

"People think keeping ants is easy, but there is a lot that goes into it, so we want to educate people on what it is like and how to do it properly."

Thomas's ants take up half of his room with what he calls 'the ant corner'. Included in his bedroom collection are Asian bullet ants, notorious for having one of the most painful bites in the animal kingdom.

Thomas added: "A few years ago I was in intensive care for anaemia due overexertion from all the weightlifting and boxing I took on to help with my lung diseases. I was told to slow down and that is when I decided to follow my enthusiasm for ants.

"Bringing ants into the wider community and educating people on them is important. Even among the pet community they are still not widely accepted, and people give me odd looks when I mention keeping pet ants, or what is involved.

"People see ants as pests, but they play a huge role in their environments and are so often misunderstood."

This has all culminated in the Great Ant Exhibition. Thomas says the event will be the biggest ant exhibition in the world, and the first in England. It will be held at Farfield School in Bristol on August 27 from 10am to 4pm.

There will be workshops, chat shows, exhibitions, a raffle and content creators.

For more information see the website www.antsonarock.com/