Colchester Zoo staff are hoping a new pumpkin patch will begin to grow in their cow paddock after it was ‘squashed’ last year.

Last year, one of the zoo’s male African elephants, Tembo, found a "new love for gardening", when he began tending a pumpkin patch in his paddock.

A spokesman said: “By tucking into the large, lobed leaves and pruning the unwanted greenery on the patch with his trunk, Tembo left the squashes to grow ready to be harvested – just in time for Halloween."

Unfortunately, Tembo’s companion, Zola, trampled over the pumpkins that were left.

“The squash became quite literally squashed," the zoo joked.

Zoo staff have now announced the beginnings of a new pumpkin patch in their cow paddock – home to female African elephants Opal and Tanya.

The animal care team suspects the pumpkins have sprouted from dispersed seeds.

The sprouts are still new and there is no guarantee the elephants will take to gardening like Tembo, but staff are hoping Opal and Tanya will become "fantastic gardeners" and allow the pumpkins to grow throughout the autumn.

In October, the zoo will host its annual Shriek Week, when visitors can watch animals enjoy ‘spook-tacular enrichment’, as well as their Halloween special, Trail or Terror.

For more information, visit Colchesterzoo.com