Nearly 29,000 people flocked to the 110-acre zoo over the three-day break, making it the busiest early May Bank Holiday in eight years.

More than 15,000 people visited on Bank Holiday Monday alone.

Sharon Leeson, the zoo's Head of Marketing and Development, said the zoo was now on course to overtake the total number of visitors in 2007, which was a record-breaking year with over 1.3 million visitors.

She said: "Bank Holiday Monday was the 65th busiest day for the zoo since 1978 and the weekend figures have been fantastic. The figures are especially encouraging given the changeable weather we have had recently.

"We are delighted that people continue to visit the zoo no matter what the weather. It confirms what a great attraction it is.

"2007 was a fantastic year for the zoo in terms of visitor numbers and this successful Bank Holiday has put us on course for yet another record-breaking year. With new attractions set to open later this year, the zoo will have lots of new things to offer over the next few months."

New animal attractions for 2008 include the return of cheetahs to the zoo. A breeding group will join the Asian Steppe area, in an enclosure being developed in a style consistent with Central Asia, from where this rare type of Cheetah originates.

Philippine Crocodiles – found only in the Philippine islands and one of the most threatened crocodile species in the world – will have a new enclosure within the Tropical Realm and will be on show by early summer.

The Tsavo area of the zoo will also soon be home to a number of African bird species. One of the new aviaries will house the spectacular and threatened Southern Ground Hornbill and a second aviary will be a walkthrough enclosure, where visitors will have the opportunity to come face to feather with a wide variety of beautifully coloured African birds. The walkthrough enclosure will be completed late summer and the Hornbill aviary in the autumn.

For more information on visiting the zoo and forthcoming events visit the website www.chesterzoo.org or call 01244 380280.