Animals led to safety as fire hits zoo

A ZOO housing 21,000 animals was evacuated yesterday when a huge fire ripped through part of it.

The inflatable roof of the Monsoon Forest area at Chester Zoo caught light, sending chunks of burning plastic flying through the air and causing panic among creatures inside.

Locals saw dozens of the residents, including gibbons and orangutans, being led to safety by staff.

University professor David Clough, 50, whose house overlooks the zoo, said: “We were scared for the staff and visitors and worried how they would evacuate the animals.”

Fifteen fire engines attended the zoo, one of the UK’s top tourist attractions. All the animals were accounted for and no people were injured.