TROOPS from RAF Brize Norton swapped army drills for a deep clean as they rolled up their sleeves to help the keepers at Cotswold Wildlife Park.

The members of the Tactical Medical Wing of the West Oxfordshire RAF base got stuck in at the park for a day-off with a difference.

Personnel were invited to head along an experience life as a zoo keeper including painting the primate houses and trimming the weeds and grass of the Colobus and Siamang exhibits.

Cotswold Wildlife Park deputy section head of primates and small mammals Natalie Horner said: "One of the bigger tasks of the morning was giving our rhino house a deep clean and then helping us with our 'Lemur Week' fundraising activities, helping to raise essential funds and awareness for our conservation work in Madagascar."

The West Oxfordshire wildlife park hosted 'Lemur Week' from May 26 to June 3 with activities and stalls to raise awareness and funds for conservation projects in Madagascar.

The RAF personnel, whose role is to train, equip and deploy medics in support of military operations in the UK and overseas, were able to get up close with a troop of lemurs and helped raise £195 for the cause in the process.

Other jobs they got stuck into included feeding the white rhinos, including two rhino calves Belle and Alan, and feeding the fruit bats.

Ms Horner added: "It’s been a really fun, productive day which has helped to strengthen the relationship between the park and RAF Brize Norton who we share the same community with.

"Our visitors have been really intrigued, asking lots of questions, which is great as it really helps us to engage with our visitors about the important work we do here at the park as well as RAF Brize Norton.

"Our animals are definitely seeing the benefit from the improvements we’ve been able to make today which is the most important thing - it makes me really proud to be a part of such a wonderful community."

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Corporal Dan Horner, of Tactical Medical Wing, added: "After the success of last year, it was daunting to organise this event again, however I feel a great deal of pride in the lads and lasses I brought.

"They took to their work without complaint and with more than an even dose of good cheer. Which is rather the point - our people work so hard at their duties so it’s a pleasure to see them enjoying a day in the sun, getting up close to some of the world’s most exotic animals, all for the price of a few hours work.

"I would like to extend heartfelt thanks on behalf Tactical Medical Wing to the Park and its staff, and my own personal thanks for being so accommodating."