Keepers at an animal park are warning of "desperate times" ahead after they decided to close the attraction due to the escalating coronavirus outbreak.

Wingham Wildlife Park, between Canterbury and Sandwich, is now shut to the public for the foreseeable future.

Park bosses - who say they face weekly bills of more than £52,000 just to keep the attraction operating - admit they are going to face a "difficult time" as ticket sales become non-existent.

They are appealing for financial support and also for unwanted food such as nuts and vegetables to be donated in order to keep the wild animals well nourished.

It isn't known when the park will reopen.

A statement released this morning reads: "These are going to be desperate times for our park, but we also want to make sure that when we come back out of this at the end, and with your support we know that we can make it through, that no one misses out.

"We want to end this outbreak, whether it is weeks or months down the line by having a place where you can once again spend time with our amazing animals and enjoy yourself following isolation.

"This was a difficult decision to make as we and our animals now have a difficult time ahead of us.

"With bills of more than £52,600 per week whether we are open or not, we appreciate any help which our supporters are willing to give us in this difficult time."

Keepers recently welcomed four orangutans to the park, and giraffes - which are due to arrive in the coming weeks - were planned to be the star attraction for visitors this Easter.

The statement continues: "If you have got too much food at home, have an excess which you have grown, own a business where supplies are going out of date, we have uses for many of those goods.

"We can utilise most vegetables, many fruits, nuts, cereals, dried fruits, peanut butter, honey and much more."

Annual passes have been frozen, meaning those who have paid will not lose out on days.

In a bid to keep those at home entertained, the park is planning to live streams from animal enclosures.

Those wanting to donate money or food, click here.

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