Security raised as escaped lynx threatens to ruin couple’s wedding celebrations

Concerns over safety of outdoor marquee reception at Dartmoor Zoo while missing lynx is still at large

People have been warned not to approach the runaway lynx (file pic) (AFP/Getty)

Dartmoor Zoo has been forced to increase security over concerns its escaped lynx could make an appearance at an on-site wedding reception.

Max Weeks, 20, and his bride-to-be Charlie-Jane Swain, both from Plymouth, are due to have their £5,000 reception in an outdoor marquee at the zoo on Saturday.

However, it looked likely that the runaway predator would scupper plans for their dream day after the zoo initially called off the celebrations, suggesting it would be safer if they relocated to the venue’s restaurant instead, the Plymouth Herald reported.

Mr Weeks told the paper: “The whole day has cost nearly £10,000 and it's something we've been planning for a long time.

“When they called yesterday, we were really upset. They said while the lynx was still missing, we wouldn't be able to have our reception in the marquee but it would have to be in the restaurant instead.

“They also said we would only have two hours to move everything up there on the Saturday and that it's the best they could do.”

However, the zoo held a crisis meeting with the South Hams District Council licensing team and it was decided the wedding could go ahead, so long as there is extra security at the venue and provided the volume of the music was not too loud.

Mr Weeks said he was happy the problem had been resolved.

Last week, drone images of the two-year-old Carpathian Lynx - called Flaviu - were taken by police, showing the predator wandering around farmland.

So far humane traps have failed to capture the animal, which has been on the run for a week after chewing a six inch hole in its enclosure.