There are plenty of events happening at Maldon district's popular zoo for the rest of the year to keep the whole family entertained.

Maldon Promenade Petting Zoo is holding mini keeper days, after school clubs and VIP tours.

It is also planning a spectacular Halloween event for the spooky season and a visit from Santa's reindeer during Christmas.

Mini keeper days

The mini keeper days - which are aimed at children aged five and under - include a ride on the zoo's tractor so participants can help maintain the farm.

Children can participate in a range of educational activities including meeting the zoo's new alpaca, feeding animals, collecting eggs from the chickens and visiting the reptiles.

They receive an employee of the day certificate at the end of the session.

The sessions are only available on weekdays during term time - at 10am, 11.30am and 1pm.

You can call 07930243225 or 07908410777 to reserve your slot, which costs £5.95 per person alongside a non-refundable deposit of £2 per booking.

After school zoo club

Children are invited to come to the zoo and learn all about its wonderful animals during its after school clubs.

Each session will have its own theme - including learning how to care for pets, animal photography, animal drawing class, exotic encounters, farming, dinosaur and fossil study, the secret life of the zoo and exploring the nature reserve.

The sessions will begin from Tuesday 12 October and last for 90 minutes.

There are sessions for children aged 6 to 9 years old and for those aged 10 to 13 years old.

Children do not undertake all the activities in one session, but over multiple sessions and weeks.

It costs £14.95 for a one-off visit per person, but you can save 15% if you book four or more visits at once, alongside a non-refundable £2 deposit per booking.

For information, please call 07930243225 or 07908410777.

Spooky animal Halloween spectacular

Get down to the zoo this October half term to see it at its spookiest - children will be invited to decorate toy pumpkins, find hidden pumpkins, help the zoo's witch make potions and meet some spooky animals.

There will also be an animal presentation and handler interaction session, which will include reptile and rodent handling.

The sessions will run from Saturday 23 to Sunday 31 October.

Tickets cost £9.95 per participant and £6.95 for non-participants who will have access to the zoo and farm, alongside a non-refundable £2 deposit.

A ghost train will be available at the extra cost of £2.95 per person, subject to availability and weather conditions - this can only be purchased on the day of your visit.

To book, call 07930243225.

Petting zoo at Christmas

The zoo has picked a special festive friend to join its festivities this Christmas - Santa's very own reindeer.

Santa will ask the children to help his elves make Christmas gifts for pets all over the world.

The children will go on a magical journey and meet the reindeer, while sitting in a real sleigh.

They will also be tasked with an extra activity this year - decorating their own reindeer - and will receive a special certificate at the end.

The event will cost £22.95 per child under 13 years and £7.95 per non-participant over 13 years, alongside a £5 non-refundable deposit per participant.

Dates available are 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28 November, and 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 December.

You can call 07930243225 to discuss time slots and book.

Maldon Promenade Petting Zoo can be found in the Promenade Park on Park Drive, CM9 5JQ.

For more information, call 07930243225 - lines are open until 9pm.

You can also follow the zoo's Facebook page using the link here.