KNOWSLEY Safari Park has expressed frustration after new government coronavirus guidelines have prevented the attraction from being able to reopen.

Staff at the Prescot have been left "worried and frustrated", said a public statement on the safari park's Facebook page.

They said the guidelines mean they haven't been able to reopen the attraction as quickly as it had been hoped.

In the statement, Knowsley Safari Park said: "We hoped we’d be able to bring good news this week. But unfortunately we can’t.

"We’re extremely unique to be able to offer an experience where guests can remain in their own vehicles while still enjoying the amazing surroundings, and we’ve been busy putting in place countless measures to ensure every visitor through our gates is safe.

"However it is now out of our hands as new government guidelines have specifically said Safari Parks must stay closed, which means we will not be able to open as quickly as we’d hoped."

It added: "This is both worrying and frustrating for us. We have continued to provide high quality care for all our animals, despite the lack of vital funds from our visitors, at a time when we should be raising money to see us through the quieter winter months.

"We’re ready to welcome you back safely and we’re working hard behind the scenes to make this happen sooner. We’ll keep you updated along the way.

"We would like to say a huge thank you for your support over the last few months. If you’d like to continue to support us, you can help through purchasing memberships and adoption packs."

Rachel Scott, marketing director at Knowsley Safari, added: “We’d really hoped to be opening our Safari Drive this week, because this whole part of the Safari experience means people don’t have to get out of their vehicles.

"This seems such a safe and sensible way for people to still enjoy seeing the animals, while having a day out, but sadly we have to remain closed until advised otherwise by the Government.

"This is really worrying and frustrating. We can’t understand why it’s now OK for people to go into shops or visit public spaces where there’s no enforced social distancing, but not stay in their vehicle on the safari drive. It just doesn’t make any sense.

“We’ve taken many COVID-19 safety measures such as only accepting online bookings to avoid handling cash, organising time-slots for visitors in their vehicles, putting protective screens at the entry kiosks and putting up coronavirus signage in the park and on the roads around the Safari.

"We’ve also created a marked picnic area away from the Safari Drive, so if people want to get out of their vehicle, they can eat their own food outside while socially distancing.  

“We’re well-prepared, ready and waiting to reopen the Safari Drive and can hopefully do this much sooner rather than later. It’s critical we’re able to start selling tickets again soon to help raise money which will cover running and animal care costs, especially for during the quieter winter months.”

See knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk/blog/supporting-knowsley-safari/ to support the safari park.