WINSFORD Town Council has decided to adopt an animal to help tackle the funding crisis facing Chester Zoo.

Residents will be invited to choose their favourite out of 47 different species up for sponsorship after members approved the move at a zoom meeting on Monday evening.

Cllr Joanne Moorcroft, leader of the Labour Group, said: "In these difficult times it was nice to have such a lovely and universally supported item on the council agenda.

"By adopting an animal at Chester Zoo we can do our bit to help fund conservation work in the UK and all around the world. Best of all this initiative is just a one-off payment of £90 per adoption. The money doesn’t change the fortunes of the zoo but hopefully raising awareness of a local asset will.”

Cllr Mike Kennedy said: "I think we should do this with some urgency and allocate some funding to the zoo. They need every pound they can get. The sooner we can do it the better."

Chester Zoo reopened on Monday but income from admissions has been drastically cut. Around 20,000 visitors usually attend every day but this has now been reduced to only 3,000.

Cllr Damon Horrill said: "We are lucky to have such a fantastic attraction near to where we live. They do a lot of conservation work throughout the UK and across the world."

Cllr Stella Mellor added:"I think it's a brilliant idea."

The £90 gold adoption package includes two admission tickets and various other items such as a Chester Zoo quarterly magazine, car sticker, tote bag, folder and pen which members plan to offer as prizes.

Councillors will invite residents to select which animal they would prefer from 45 available for adoption and the names of everyone taking part will be entered into a free draw.

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A letter of thanks to the people of Winsford with an image of the adopted animal will go on display online and in public buildings when they reopen alongside information about the chosen species.

Town clerk Mark Bailey has been asked to write to Chester Zoo to see which adoption package would be most suitable for the council.

Details on how to view and choose your favourite animal will released by the council in the coming weeks.

Mayor Cllr Ailsa Gaskill-Jones said her family had adopted an otter.