Meerkats, a 16ft snake, owls, iguanas and genets all died in the blaze at The Jungle Box, a soft play centre owned by Jade and Paul Webster which housed the animals in Buntingford, Hertfordshire.

A children's play centre in Hertfordshire that also included a mini zoo has seen all its animals tragically perish in an overnight fire.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to The Jungle Box on the Watermill Industrial Estate in Buntingford, at around 03:20am on Wednesday.