Twycross Zoo was in lockdown after chimps escaped

Twycross Zoo was locked down by the police after a group of chimpanzees found their way into service corridors.

07:10 04 August 2013

Twycross Zoo in Lancaster was locked down by police officers after eight chimpanzees escaped from their enclosures and found their way into service corridors. The zoo reopened two hours later after the animals were lured back into their enclosure with fizzy drinks and ice cream.

A zoo spokeswoman said: "At no time were the public at risk, and no people or chimps were harmed during the incident, however it is part of our safety procedures that we close the zoo whilst such events are resolved.

"All of the chimps are fine, if not a little excited about having ice cream for breakfast. They are all on view to the public as normal."

An internal investigation will take place to find out how the animals escaped.