Zoo hopes to inspire on Attenborough's 100th

A zoo in the West Midlands has said it wants to inspire the next generation as it celebrates Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday.

Dudley Zoo and Castle (DZC) is offering pre-booked children's tickets for 100p - or £1 - between 7 and 10 May to mark the acclaimed wildlife broadcaster's centenary on Friday.

The BBC is marking the milestone with a week of special BBC programming.

A spokesperson for the attraction said: "Sir David has opened our eyes to the wonders of the natural world and inspired generations to learn about and want to protect the planet's flora and fauna - including us here at Dudley Zoo and Castle."

They added that children were "the world's future custodians".

"We hope that by visiting DZC they too may be inspired and excited when discovering the amazing animal species we not only care for here on site but also support across the globe through vital conservation projects," they said.

The tourist attraction has hundreds of animals, including lions, tigers, meerkats and flamingos.

Usually the price of a child's ticket starts at £15.40.

Sir David first started working at the BBC as a trainee in 1952.

BBC One will air a 90-minute special event broadcast live from the Royal Albert Hall in London at 20:30 BST on his birthday.

Jack Bootle, head of commissioning for specialist factual at the BBC, said it was "impossible to overstate" his contributions.

"His programmes have not only defined science and natural history broadcasting, but they have also changed how we see our planet and our place within it," he said.

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