DUDLEY Zoological Gardens has celebrated an awesome August with numbers topping 64,500.

Bosses believe new attractions including the popular walkthrough Lorikeet Lookout have contributed to an increase in visitor numbers which they say has given the zoo its best August in a quarter of a century.

The Castle Hill attraction recorded total of 64,518 visitors last month – a 79.4 per cent rise of visitors in the same period in 2006 and 14 per cent up on last year’s 56,470 total; and on August Bank Holiday Monday alone 4,674 visitors flooded through the turnstiles.

Zoo director Derek Grove said: “We’ve had an incredible holiday period and are delighted with the numbers which we believe to be our best August season in at least 25 years.

“Continual investment across the site and the boost of our animal collection with the opening of Flamingo Falls, Macaques on the Bank and Lorikeet Lookout, as well as the arrival of the giant anteater, have all proved popular additions this year and the pleasant weather and fantastic bank holiday have all helped demonstrate DZG’s continued popularity for a great family day out.”

The busy holiday season also helped the zoo to raise funds for Global Tiger Day, World Lion Day, International Orangutan Day and World Land Trust’s Atlantic Forest appeal and saw £2,500, raised through visitor donations and DZG coffers, divided between the four causes.