Chester Zoo Christmas Lanterns will be “biggest and best” ever say organisers.

Chester Zoo has released new information about its spectacular Christmas event.

Organisers of The Lanterns, which offers visitors the chance to journey past a host of illuminated life-sized animals, have promised the “biggest and best” winter celebration ever staged at the zoo.

The event, which is now in its fifth year, has proven to be a popular way to raise funds for the zoo and its work as a conservation charity.

Now, days before the opening night, organisers have revealed there will be more live performance characters and more lanterns than ever before – including, for the first time, a host of illuminated animal characters native to the UK.

Charlotte Smith, head of discovery and learning at Chester Zoo, said:

I can think of no better animal to put up in lights than the beautiful hedgehog! Throughout 2016 we’ve been helping threatened species closer to home, so this Christmas The Lanterns will celebrate UK wildlife as well as our usual – and lovely – penguins and giraffes!

This year we’re also inviting visitors to take a zebra crossing through a constellation of stars and stroll through the enchanted forest to meet a host of colourful festive characters – and even catch a glimpse of Santa on his sleigh

The Lanterns is always very popular so we recommend that you book as early as you can to avoid disappointment. This year is going to be our biggest and best ever and we can’t wait to see you there.

The Lanterns will run on selected nights between Friday 25 November and Friday 23 December.

Tickets are £9-12.50 for children and £10-15 for adults. Infants age 2 & under are free. Book online at www.chesterzoo.org

The festivities have been designed and performed for Chester Zoo by The Lantern Company, creators of spectacular illuminated events across the world, for audiences of all ages.