DUDLEY Zoo will be spreading the love this half term.

To mark Love Your Zoo Week, there will be an array of activities on offer between May 27 and June 4 to spread the message about the Castle Hill attraction's conservation, education and research work.

Andrea Hales, the zoo's marketing manager, said: "There’ll be crafts, colouring and displays in the Discovery Centre’s Rainforest Room, a packed programme of daily animal talks and feeds and visitors can meet a critter in the Go Wild! Theatre at 1.15pm and 3.30pm.

"There’ll be lots going on for all the family to enjoy.”

Throughout the event, organised by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, staff are also inviting visitors to enter a photography competition.

Keen snappers are being encouraged to pick up their cameras and capture their favourite zoo animal, with an adoption for the photographed animal up for grabs.

Entries should be emailed to memories@dudleyzoo.org.uk.

Families can also follow a heart trail around the 40-acre site for the chance to win some of the zoo's limited edition 80th anniversary memorabilia, with a free Love Your Zoo Week sticker for all entrants.