Police blocked a road and cornered a lemur in a front garden after it escaped from Colchester Zoo.

Officers were called to Maldon Road, Stanway, close to the zoo’s entrance, on Sunday evening after receiving calls from members of the public.

The red-ruffed lemur had been seen darting in and out of traffic, but police cornered the animal and threw it bananas in an attempt to contain it, according to an eye-witness.

Zoo staff later arrived to return the lemur safely home.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We were contacted by a motorist shortly before 8.30pm, who was reporting a monkey was on Maldon Road, outside Colchester Zoo.

“Officers attended the scene and contained the lemur before zoo staff arrived and collected the animal 15 minutes later.

“There was no further police action."

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