Pumpkins are proving a popular addition to the menu for animals at Dudley Zoo – thanks to leftover souvenirs of the season.

The attraction’s primates, birds and tapirs have all been sampling Halloween cuisine after prize pumpkins were left behind by visitors. The top tourist venue has been making sure the extra food does not go to waste and the animals have developed a taste for the treat.

Zoo chief executive Peter Suddock said keepers had been dishing out the spooky snacks since last week’s Halloween events.

He said: “Following last week’s on-site Halloween events we have been left with dozens of pumpkins and are putting them to good use.

“We ran a grow-your-own pumpkin contest throughout summer with members, which ended with a grand weigh-in over the weekend.

“Most of the competitors left their pumpkins behind for the animals, as did many of Friday’s trick-or-treaters.

“Lots of our animals enjoy fruits as part of their five-a-day and staff have been adding the pumpkins to meals and using them for enrichment in various enclosures.”

The zoo, in Castle Hill, attracted 2,700 visitors throughout the Halloween week, despite a dose of freezing winter weather that included snow and rain.

Of the 2,700 visitors, 2,200 of those attended special Halloween events as part of the Boo at the Zoo programme.