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Three arrested and helicopter called after figures spotted scaling walls at Dudley Zoo

Three people have been arrested after people were seen scaling the walls of Dudley Zoo during a break in today.

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Police helicopter spotted the group running through the zoo grounds near the ruins of Dudley Castle in the early hours.

Officers were sent to the scene after a 999 call was received from a member of the public who saw them hauling themselves over a perimeter wall at around 12.50am.

Officers arrived at the scene but due to the vast area of the historic zoo site on Castle Hill, in Dudley, they called for air support.

The National Police Air Service helicopter was on scene within minutes searching the 40-acre site and soon picked out the suspects using a heat-seeking camera.

The three people were arrested at around 1.10am

A 24-year-old man from Walsall, a 26-year-old man from Tipton and a 22-year-old woman from Gornal were arrested inside the grounds at the castle ruins.

They remain in police custody this morning help officers with their inquiries.

No animals were hurt during the break-in and investigators are working to establish whether or not anything was taken by the intruders.

A spokesperson from Dudley Zoo said: "A neighbour alerted our security team who in turn contacted the police. The site has been fully checked and there are no signs of damage or access to enclosures."

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