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A zoo manager has said he does not "expect violence or threats" after he was almost punched by a visitor.

A family was asked to leave Tropiquaria Zoo in Washford, Watchet, after members allegedly made "a number of verbal threats" on Sunday, June 30.

Avon and Somerset Police said it is continuing to investigate the incident.

Chris Moiser, the zoo's manager, claimed staff members were subjected to "abusive threats" at the Blackbeards Café and shop before the family was asked to leave.

(Image: Google)

He said: "A woman was complaining about the service inside the café and wanted food.

"She took a pen and pad from the front counter to write down what she wanted.

"A staff member asked for it back as he explained it's for employees.

"But she started shouting at him and was abusive to him."

Chris claimed the woman said she "worked for the council" and she threatened to "have the council shut the place down".

He added: "He (café worker) came to the shop and she followed him and continued to be abusive.

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"She made a comment about people with autism, too. She used it as criticism of people who work here."

After a head keeper intervened, she and her family were ordered to leave.

The unidentified woman left the shop to find her family inside the zoo and left with them.

Mr Moiser went to the car park to check if the group had left but said they had not.

This is when Mr Moiser said an older man approached him and began to make threats.

"A male stood in the car park and started to swear at me and made threats of direct and immediate violence", he said.

(Image: Chris Moiser)

"He was going to hit me. He was swearing more and more.

"He had pulled his arm back to hit me but these men held him back.

"They said 'it's not worth it' and left.

"If his family had not have intervened, he would have hit me."

After the family left, Mr Moiser made a note of their vehicle's registration number and reported the altercation to police.

Mr Moiser believed the family consisted of "five or six people" of varying ages, including young children.

He believes the family may have been holiday-makers from outside of the county and claims "the car was registered outside of Somerset."

(Image: Fran Stothard)

Mr Moiser said this was a "rare thing to happen" at Tropiquaria Zoo.

He singled out a season ticket holder for praise, who after escorting her children to a safe place, asked if he and his colleagues were OK following the altercation.

He said: "It is a very rare incident. Most of our visitors are very nice and the number of people who come here to see the animals are friendly.

"We do not expect violence or threats at a zoo."

"A number of verbal threats were made, including offers of direct and immediate violence." - Statement in full from Tropiquaria Zoo

(Image: SWNS)

A spokesman for Tropiquaria Zoo said this is only the second time in 12 years that a group of people have been asked to leave the site.

A statement reads: "Unfortunately, and this is very rare, we had an incident today where a family were asked to leave.

"It started with them being abusive to a member of staff in the café, and then the female shouting in the shop at a director.

"When they left shortly afterwards an older male became violent with one of the senior staff and was only stopped from attacking him by his own family.

"A number of verbal threats were made, including offers of direct and immediate violence. We have the car registration number and the police are now investigating.

"If anyone was present and has seen or heard anything Avon and Somerset Police would love to hear from you on 101 quoting incident ref 5219147475.

"I will re-iterate that we are all unharmed (similarly the animals) and that this sort of thing very rarely happens (twice in our 12 years with almost half a million visitors.)"

Police continuing to investigate altercation at zoo

(Image: darrensp)

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police confirmed today (Tuesday, July 2) the incident is still being investigated.

An original statement, released on Sunday (June 30), reads: "Police were called at 12.15pm Sunday, June 30, to a report of an altercation in which a member of staff was verbally threatened by a man and woman visiting the attraction.

"The incident happened at about midday."

Anyone who witnessed the incident are advised to contact the police on 101 and quote the reference number 5219147475.

Did you see what happened? Are you happy to speak to me about it?

Get in touch: Email michael.taylor@reachplc.com, tweet @JournoMikeT or call 01935 709742.

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