WEST Midlands Safari Park staff are celebrating bagging a top national award for their school trips.

The park won ‘Best Wildlife Attraction’ at the School Travel Awards, seeing off strong competition from across the country.

It boasts its own education department, and the state-of-the-art Safari Academy education centre to help youngsters get the most out of visits with their schools.

Park education manager, Nicola Anslow, said: “We are honoured to have received the title of best wildlife attraction and to be recognised for the wonderful school trips we provide.

“We have been welcoming school pupils for more than 40 years to see and learn about our animals – from the towering giraffes that peer in through coach windows, to the cheeky lemurs that leap high up in our trees at our walk-through exhibits, there is so much to explore!

“The award really highlights the impact school excursions have in developing confidence and resilience in young people, and after such a turbulent year, they have never been more important than they are right now.”