Thousands apply for zoo positions

Around 3,000 people have shown interest in the 150 jobs.

Thousands of people have applied for 150 summer jobs at a Leicestershire zoo, managers said.

Bosses at Twycross Zoo believe around 3,000 people have shown interest in the advertised positions.

The jobs do not involve working directly with the animals, but are in catering, retail, visitor information and ranger details.

A recruitment day was held at the zoo's Napier Centre. Successful applicants will be notified in about a month.

John Ray of Twycross Zoo said: "We've had a tremendous response from the people who want to have a job here.

"First of all I'd like to apologise for the people who couldn't get in, it's just been so overwhelming we hadn't realised (the response) would be quite so good."

Twycross Zoo - famous for its collection of primates - opened in 1963 and has about 1,000 mammals, birds and reptiles.