An investigation has been opened in Italy after an acclaimed circus trainer was mauled to death by four of his own tigers.

Ettore Weber, 61, was training the tigers at a circus outside Bari, in southern Italy, when one turned on him and started mauling him.

The other three tigers then joined in the attack and “played” with the trainer’s body for half an hour before they could be driven away by circus workers.

He was rushed to hospital but died of his injuries on Thursday night.

The four tigers have been removed from the Orfei Circus and sent to a local safari park while the investigation is carried out.

Mr Weber and his tigers were part of a circus show billed as “A journey through five continents”, featuring a range of animals including camels, zebras, giraffes and llamas.