THE winter may seem to be never-ending but a group of meerkats from Port Lympne seems to have found a fail-safe way of keeping warm.

The creatures are native to the Kalahari Desert in Botswana and South Africa and so are accustomed to much warmer temperatures than those of an English winter.

So staff have rigged up heat lamps to keep the chills at bay until spring arrives.

Keeper Chris Hales said: ‘The meerkats, like the keepers, have been generally unimpressed by all the cold weather.

“It is warming up nicely here now and spring is definitely on its way but they still like to sit under their lamps, maybe to boost the tan factor.”

Call Port Lympne on 01303 264647 or visit www.totallywild.net.