ENTERTAINER Timmy Mallett got out his paint and brushes to decorate a second gorilla sculpture called Kingdom after the first was set alight by vandals.

The TV personality had spent a month painting the original Kingdom in a garage belonging to a neighbour before it was put in position in The Mall Gardens, Clifton.

It was "draped" in a Union flag and became part of a 60-strong chain of life-size gorilla statues placed across Bristol and the surrounding area as part of the 175th anniversary celebrations at Bristol Zoo.

Each one was painted differently and they have become popular features, with many people having their photograph taken next to them.

But in the early hours last Wednesday arsonists struck, setting fire to Kingdom leaving him so badly damaged that he could not be salvaged.

Timmy agreed to have another go and one remaining unpainted gorilla was provided for him to paint in position in the gardens in just one day.

The former children's TV presenter is a talented artist and he gave up a family day out to travel to Clifton with his red, white and blue paint.

He was also given a helping hand to complete the job, with children and adults dabbing on paint on Kingdom Mark Two.

Timmy said: "I had meant to go to a pre-season friendly at Oxford United.

"It's very sad and disappointing that the first sculpture was damaged and I wanted to come and paint the replacement.

"It's quite something to get it done in one day but I've had a lot of willing helpers, which is very nice and much appreciated.

"I got the original idea for the design when I saw all the flags during the Royal Wedding. I wondered what it would look like if a gorilla wore a flag."

Among the youngsters who met Timmy - and had dabs of paint put on their faces - were 19 members of the 2nd Winterbourne Brownies, with their leader, brown owl Catherine Fish.

She said: "We were in Bristol as part of the Chief Commissioner's Challenge, visiting places of interest such as the ss Great Britain and the suspension bridge, and decided to come to the garden. We didn't know Timmy was here so it was a bonus."

Timmy was invited to Clifton by Tony Miles, chairman of the Clifton Traders' Association and brother of Timmy's manager, John Miles.

Tony said: "There was an outpouring of disgust when the first sculpture was set on fire. A businessman friend of mine has put up a £2,000 reward to bring the perpetrator to justice and the Clifton Club opposite the gardens is installing CCTV cameras to cover Kingdom, so he will be very secure."

All 60 gorillas will remain on display throughout the summer before being auctioned to raise funds for gorilla conservation projects and Bristol Children's Hospital.