BOSSES at Colchester Zoo have been left delighted after it was ranked among the best zoos and aquariums in the country.

On a list of more than 180 places reviewed by TripAdvisor, the Maldon Road attraction was listed in the top five in England.

After earning consistently great reviews from supporters all over the country on the world’s biggest guidance platform, Colchester Zoo has announced it has been ranked among the top five zoos and aquariums in the country, with 73 per cent of reviews rated five stars.

The zoo was also rated the 13th best in Europe and the number one outdoor activity in Essex.

A spokesman for the zoo said: “It’s great to be recognised by our loyal supporters with comments posted on TripAdvisor as we work towards being a top conservation Zoo in the UK and worldwide.

“We read through each and every review and always enjoy sharing positive comments with our hard-working team as well as taking on board feedback constructively to help improve our visitor experience.”

The zoo also thanked all its visitors, who help with the zoo’s charity, Colchester Zoological Society, which supports conservation projects both here in the UK and around the world.

“Without loyal supporters, they wouldn’t be able to provide much-needed funds helping to care for wildlife and wild places,” the spokesman said.