Cheetah has cheeky break to see mum

Visitors to a wildlife park were locked in for their own safety after a cheetah that wanted to be with its mother escaped from its enclosure.

A spokesman for Port Lympne, near Hythe, said the big cat was out of its enclosure for about 25 minutes before being encouraged back in with food.

Visitors had been ushered to safe areas, as is standard practice.

Animal director Adrian Harland said: “This particular cheetah was no real threat to our guests. He only climbed out to get back with his mother after having been separated to stop him eating all her dinner.

“We have secured the enclosure’s perimeter fencing to ensure that the cheetah cannot climb out again.”