ANIMALS at Bristol Zoo are getting a special Halloween treat in the form of their very own carved pumpkins.

Visitors of all ages are being invited to bring along pumpkins they have decorated for a competition to be judged tomorrow.

The best efforts will win prizes – and all the entries will end up being given to the zoo's lemurs, penguins, gorillas and okapi to play with and eat.

Visitors who carve or decorate a pumpkin and take it along to the zoo before noon tomorrow will get free entry for one child with a full-paying adult.

Fancy dress parades will also take place at 1.30pm tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday as part of the Zoo's Halloween festival.

John Partridge, Bristol Zoo Gardens' senior curator of animals, said: "Carved pumpkins provide the perfect enrichment activity toy as the animals have to delve inside to reach the succulent flesh and plump seeds.

"Pumpkin is also a great addition to their regular diet as it is high in vitamins A, C, potassium, protein and fibre, and keeps them looking their best for when visitors arrive."

It's not only the animals who can get into the spooky spirit at Bristol Zoo this Halloween, as the popular pumpkin carving competition returns, sponsored by Bristol in Bloom.

The zoo is also holding its Bangless Bonfire Night with specially designed toddler and animal-friendly bangless fireworks that will light up the skies above the zoo on Wednesday adding sparkle to Guy Fawkes Night.

It takes place from 4pm to 6pm and is included in normal zoo admission price.

Alternatively, a ticket to the Bangless Bonfire Night costs £3 for adults, £2 for child- ren, and is free for under threes.

For more information visit Bristol Zoo's website www.bristolzoo.org.uk