Bassenthwaite's Lake District Wildlife Park is celebrating after its park manager has reached 20 years as a flying demonstrator.

Richard Robinson, who took over as park manager in 2002, marked the milestone with his star assistant Jasper the buzzard who has been with him for all of that time.

Mr Robinson, 37, had loved birds of prey since he was a youngster, so aged 16, he left home and started as an apprentice falconer at the Yorkshire Dales Falconry Centre.

Mr Robinson spent three years in Yorkshire with Jasper working with numerous birds of prey, then came to Cumbria.

He eventually joined the team at the Lake District Wildlife Park where he was put in charge of developing the park's own bird of prey team. 

He introduced birds from other centres that were quite young so he could train them himself. 

Some of those birds are still part of the original flying team. 

Mr Robinson said: "There’s no better feeling than giving someone that wow moment as Jasper flies overhead, soaring with that distinct buzzard mewing call and broad-winged silhouette.

“Jasper has been part of my working team for the whole of my career. He’s at the ripe old age of 33 and still going strong. 

"He has a special place in my heart.

"I can’t believe I’ve been working with birds for 20 years. It’s special, but no connection is as special as your first longest lasting relationship - I owe Jasper a lot.”

The park has also seen a baby boom over the last few weeks.

It has welcomed a baby ruffed lemur, born six weeks ago, three baby meerkats, who are three weeks old, and six micro piglets, which were born on Tuesday.