A zoo has announced its reopening date after being forced to shut because of lockdown.

Marwell Zoo will reopen on December 2, at the end of the second national lockdown.

The chief executive of the zoo has now urged families to support their vital conservation work by visiting the Hampshire wildlife park this Christmas.

Tickets for December 2, 3 and 4, will go on sale Monday.

Tickets will then be released for sale four days ahead only

Marwell Zoo’s Chief Executive James Cretney, said: “Even when the zoo is closed, our daily costs remain incredibly high as the responsibility of looking after our animals to the highest standard does not change, so we are of course delighted that we can reopen next week.

“We’re undoubtedly facing our toughest challenge in our nearly 50 year history.

"Since March we’ve lost more than £4million in revenue due to the pandemic and each month it costs us more than £220,000 just to care for our resident animals.

"We are a charity and our wider conservation work, both here in the UK and overseas also needs to continue."