KEEPERS at Longleat Safari Park are giving their TV- loving gorillas a special Christmas treat this year by installing the new Sky+ system in their hut.

Western Lowland gorillas, Nico and Samba, have been lying back in front of the telly for the last few years, but their keepers decided it was time for an upgrade.

The 42-year-olds will now have all their favourite programmes recorded on their Sky+ box.

Keeper Mark Tye said: "Western Lowland gorillas are extremely socialable animals and crave attention.

"However, American scientists discovered TV has a calming effect on them. Over the colder winter months, Nico and Samba spend much more of their time indoors and they enjoy watching the TV as it keeps them entertained.

"Their favourite programmes include cartoons and animal documentaries."

Sky has put a minidish on the roof of Nico and Samba's hut on Gorilla Island, but staff don't want the pair to get square eyes so have set a timer allowing them to watch only two hours in the morning and four hours in the evening.

Mr Tye said: "I'm ashamed to say that 25 stone Nico plays up to the typical male stereotype and sits there for hours with his arms crossed like an old man and gets grumpy if someone tries to change the channel while he's watching his favourite programme."