Meerkats escape from Southend zoo and cause havoc on seafront as they scamper among shocked tourists

MEERKATS caused mayhem after they escaped from Southend zoo and legged it down the seafront.

Shocked tourists could barely believe their eyes as the pint-sized pals fled through the popular seaside resort in Essex on Friday evening.

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The cuddly critters, best known for flogging insurance in TV commercials, had broken out from Sea Life Adventure Centre  in the town.

At least 10 of the meerkats made their escape but didn’t manage to flee to an awaiting boat.

They were later seen roaming around a miniature golf course on the seafront.

Cops did their best to herd the critters together but the meerkats were too agile and sprinted away from the officers.

However, eventually a member of the public called the RSPCA and it is believed all the critters were rounded up and taken back to the zoo.

Sealife posted a CCTV still of a man they believe is responsible for the meerkats escaping on its official Facebook page and claimed he had vandalised the enclosure.

However, these claims were not supported by cops.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "We are investigating reports a meerkat enclosure was damaged at Sea Life Adventure in  Southend.

"A number of meerkats escaped as a result but were safely rounded up."

Locals were thrilled to see the meerkats had made a break for it.

On Facebook one man wrote: "Amazing little ingenious creatures...proves you can’t contain nature."

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Another posted: "Imagine going for a nice stroll along the beach and then having a pack of meerkats running past you."

One woman posted: "This would be the best day of my life."

While one meerkat fan quipped: "All they wanted to do is go to the movies. Simples."

Witnesses who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time of the meerkat escape are asked to call the Southend community policing team on 101 quoting reference 42/110687/19

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