Visitors have been evacuated from Chester Zoo after a fire broke out in the Monsoon Forest habitat area.

The zoo said fire crews were working to control the blaze and staff were working to move animals out of danger.

In a statement issued on Saturday afternoon, a spokesman for Chester Zoo said: "Chester Zoo can confirm that the fire services are attending to a fire inside its Monsoon Forest habitat today.

"Visitors were evacuated immediately and the zoo’s response team worked alongside the emergency services to help bring the situation under control.

"The zoo’s teams are now assessing the situation. Critically endangered Sumatran orangutans and other mammals are all accounted for. We working hard to account for all other species.

"The zoo remains closed.

"The zoo’s The Lanterns event this evening has been cancelled and ticket holders notified by email.

"Please refer to our website and social media pages for accurate information. We will update you with more information as soon as we have it."

A spokesman for the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We remain at the scene and there are no reports of any injuries at this time.

"The team at the zoo are assessing the situation to account for all the animals.

"Drivers are advised to avoid the area."

One eyewitness, David Clough, said high winds fanned the flames in the inflatable roof of the building, adding: "We were very worried for the people and animals that would have been in the building."

The zoo said in a statement: "Visitors have been evacuated and asked to leave as teams work to bring the situation under control."

Mr Clough, 50, who lives across the road from the zoo, said: "We first saw signs of the fire shortly after 11.30.

"The Monsoon Forest building in the zoo's new Islands development was on fire.

"It has an inflatable roof that was burning. Lots of flames and smoke."

He added: "Orangutans and gibbons are our nearest neighbours there, but there are many other animals, including free-flying birds.

"It was spreading across the roof in strong winds for a while.

"Lots of fire engines arrived quickly.

"By about 30 mins ago the main flames had gone, but there's a smaller fire still burning at the southern end of the roof."