BOSSES at the South Lakes Safari Zoo say it will now reopen after a day of drama at the site.

The zoo's landowners said it would be shut temporarily after it terminated the lease of the company that runs the site.

But now bosses at the zoo claim the site will reopen tomorrow.

Police and security staff turned up at the zoo this morning after workers arrived and reported that locks had been changed.

The Zoo Investment Company said the current zoo managers had committed 'serious breaches' of its terms of occupation, which they have strongly denied, and that the site would see a 'short-lived' closure.

But tonight, the zoo's managers have taken to social media to say it will be open tomorrow.

They said: "We are back in control of the zoo and our teams are on site now and will be until every last animal has been checked.

"Our vet is working with the team to check the welfare of all our charges and we will not go home until that has happened.

"Thank you for all your support, we know many of you that travelled to us today are deeply disappointed to have made such long journeys and to have been turned away - we hope this will not put you off visiting us again.

"We will be open tomorrow at 10am as normal."