DUDLEY Zoo keepers braved sub-zero temperatures and massive traffic delays to feed more than 1,300 hungry mouths at the Castle Hill site.

Staff travelled in from as far as Tamworth, Staffordshire and Shropshire, battling blocked roads and traffic jams to care for the attraction's 170 endangered and exotic species.

Curator Matt Lewis said: “We had six inches of snowfall across the site which made moving food supplies around various zoo sections quite a challenge.

“Staff came in early to clear paths and grit the site to ease the situation, but it was hard, cold work transporting the foodstuffs manually.”

While most of the collection prefer the warmth of their internal enclosures species such as Humboldt penguins, Tibetan red pandas and Patagonian sealions revel in the winter chills.

Matt added: “The penguins have been really active during the big freeze and dozens of them were swimming in the pool over the weekend.

“And surprisingly our three young Asiatic lions were out playing in the snow – but that was just curiosity, and they were soon back on their heated pads watching the white stuff from a distance.”

Zoo Chief Executive Peter Suddock said: “A zoo keeper’s role requires utmost commitment; all of the animals have to be fed and cared for regardless of weather conditions.

“A couple of staff members travelled for more than four hours to reach the zoo and others who face difficult journeys home have made arrangements to stay nearer the zoo during the bad weather so they can be on site to look after the animals.”