Staff at a zoo have been busily preparing to welcome back visitors next month.

Milnthorpe’s Lakeland Wildlife Oasis spent the coronavirus shutdown creating a newly refurbished ‘evolutionary journey’ walkway, leading to an aquarium corridor featuring three new enormous marine exhibit tanks.

There are also new reptile enclosures in its tropical hall designed to increase face to face interaction with the inhabitants.

The zoo plans to open on July 4, with visitors having to book in advance.

Zoo manager Jack Williams said: "Throughout lockdown, core staff have been working non-stop to prepare for fully Covid compliant reopening.

"We saw, and took, the opportunity to go further and make exciting major improvements to many of our facilities and exhibits.

"Just a final tidy, check, sign off, and we are ready to go.”

The work has also involved knocking down walls to create a separate entrance, exit and wide, one-way walkways.

Jack said: “Of course, it’s been incredibly tough and scary, but belief and our amazing supporters have not only got us through, but revealed silver linings.

"Thank you to everyone whose generosity (through food donations and an incredible £20,000 fundraising campaign) has enabled us to keep going.

“We value our staff and visitors too much to risk shortcuts. We are exceeding official Government and zoo guidelines.

"Everyone here is so excited to be unveiling an even better zoo, we cannot wait to welcome our wonderful visitors back through the gates again."