MORE than 5,000 butterflies from around the world have been released into the tropical butterfly house at Blenheim Palace.

Head gardener Hilary Wood helped release dozens of exotic species from South America, Africa, Australia and South Asia as well as a selection of native butterflies in time for the half-term holidays.

Alongside the live butterflies, staff also delivered around 180 pupae from Africa and the Philippines, which have been placed in the butterfly house’s hatchery area where visitors can see them.

Garden staff have planted a variety of flowers including marguerite, black eyed Susan’s, hydrangea and hibiscus.

There are also sugar bowls and fruit from which the butterflies can feed.

Rare butterflies released include the blue morpho, a tropical rainforest species found in Central and South America.

It is one of the largest butterfly species in the world and an adult wingspan is up to 20cms.

Ms Wood said the number of butterflies is expected to continue growing.

He said: “It’s an amazing sight to see the house filled with exotic butterflies once again and we’re expecting many more to hatch out over the coming days.”

The butterflies share their home with a colony of zebra finches.