Banham Zoo helps animals cool off during heat

Sprinklers have been installed to help create a humid atmosphere for the flamingos

A zoo has been using frozen fruit and water sprinklers to keep its animals cool during the summer heat.

Tuesday was the UK's hottest day of the year so far as temperatures in the east reached almost 31C. (88F)

Banham Zoo in Norfolk said it regularly monitored its animals - especially those used to living in colder climates.

Keepers said the monkeys had enjoyed frozen fruit and vegetables while the resident snow leopards had been given additional cooling packs in their enclosure.

Michelle Lawrence, who works at the zoo, said there were a number of things keepers could do to help primates.

"One of the major ways that we can help is by freezing some of their fruits and their vegetables... we will freeze them and either put them in full ice blocks and hang them in the tree or freeze the vegetables on their own and give them to them as ice cubes," she said.

More visits and checks are given to the animals during hot weather

Elsewhere at the zoo, a sprinkler system has been installed especially for the flamingos.

"These guys obviously feed in the water so the sprinkler system keeps up the water levels, it sprinkles a little bit higher level of water, Ms Lawrence said.

"In the areas where they are found in the wild there's a little bit more rainfall, even in the summer months, so it just helps create a humid atmosphere for them to bathe and parade around with."

The sprinkler system helps the birds cool their legs and bodies