Zoo forgets to ask for planning permission

A Scottish zoo forgot to ask for planning permission on a new panda enclosure.

Edinburgh Zoo has been forced to slow work on its new giant panda house because it was revealed it had failed to seek the green light from the council to go ahead with the construction - but Hugh Roberts, the interim chief executive who was appointed to the post three weeks ago, has put on a brave face in the wake of the blunder.

He said: "We're not stopping all work, but we can't carry on at the same pace.

"Clearly this isn't the best thing for the zoo, but everyone makes the occasional mistake. We'll pick up, we'll move on and we'll sort it out."

The enclosure is needed for giant pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang, who are due to arrive from China later this year.