Longleat macaque grabs its chance for freedom

They are notorious for their antics on Longleat's safari drive but one monkey has prompted a search by staff and police after escaping from the park.

The primate is thought to have made its bid for freedom on Thursday afternoon after it was spotted outside the park.

Staff from Longleat Safari Park have been leading the search for the "low-risk" monkey with the help of officers from Wiltshire Police.

It is thought the juvenile rhesus macaque could be in the Corsley area after a sighting in the village early yesterday.

A spokesman for Longleat said: "The monkey is the approximate size and weight of a small domestic cat. Due to its small size the monkey poses minimal threat to the public."