Linton Zoo lions 'recycle' Christmas trees Published duration 5 January 2013

image caption The zoo said African lion Zuri loved playing with Christmas trees

A Cambridgeshire zoo wants people to drop off their Christmas trees to be reused as toys for their big cats.

Lions, tigers and snow leopards at Linton Zoological Gardens love playing and curling up with the discarded trees, said director Kim Simmons.

Trees without roots are used by the animals as toys, while those with roots can be planted.

Dried out trees are used as fuel in the zoo's bio-burner, which provides extra heating and hot water.

Mrs Simmons said: "Greenery is very important to our animals, so live rooted and growing trees can be given a second chance at life by being planted in one of our animal enclosures."