Giraffe name honours The Darkness

The baby giraffe is being named after Justin Hawkins

A baby giraffe has been named in honour of the lead singer of glam rockers The Darkness.

Staff at the Suffolk Wildlife Park near Lowestoft, the home town of the Darkness, decided to honour Justin Hawkins's wild image.

The Darkness, who are currently touring the US, have welcomed the news.

Justin Hawkins said: "It's a great honour to have a baby giraffe named after me and it's a wonderful that the Wildlife Park has stuck its neck out."

He added: "In a way, we The Darkness, are all newborn calves taking our first stumbling steps into the celebrity world and I am delighted that the people and animals of East Anglia are all right behind us.

Date for visit

"I hope we can offer the same support to young Justin."

A spokeswoman for Suffolk Wildlife Park said that a date has not been set for a possible visit by Justin Hawkins and other members of The Darkness to visit the giraffe, which was born in January this year.

Earlier this month Waveney District Council agreed to name some new roads after them in recognition of their success and their constant praise of the area.

Three members of the Brit-winning band come from the Lowestoft area, including brothers Justin and Dan Hawkins.

The council is considering Hawkins Close or Hawkins Way as possibilities.