A man has been slammed after he was filmed introducing young children to pet lions he keeps in rickety cages.

The youngsters, including a toddler, walked right up to the lions in the flat in the city of Omsk in south central Russia .

The owner of the lions , whose name is not known, can be heard warning the youngsters not to put their hands inside the cage.

He said: "They are still small, when they grow up they will be up to 350 kg (771 lbs)."

The children had been brought to the flat to see the lions by friends of the animals' owner.

A man was filmed introducing the children to the lion, who is being kept in a flimsy cage, by an eyewitness (
Image:
CEN)

He reportedly keeps the lions in their cage in a spare room opposite his own bedroom.

But the man has been criticised after the footage was posted on social media, with online commentators saying it was not safe to keep such dangerous animals in a flat.

Animal lovers said it was unfair on the lions as the cage was far too small for them to run around and get the exercise they needed.

Footage shows him telling the children not to put their fingers inside the cage (
Image:
CEN)

Aleksander Kolesnik wrote on Facebook : "I think this is very irresponsible and stupid", while another user added: "Why wouldn't someone take those dangerous cats away from him? Save the animals."

Big cats have become the last must-have accessory for Russia's nouveau riche with wildlife officials increasingly concerned about the number in unsuitable homes.