A team of volunteers in Swanley have agreed the mammoth task of rehoming a zoo.

Beaver Water World in Tatsfield has closed down, leaving dozens of specialist animals needing a new home.

But a dedicated group of volunteers from Second Chance Animal Rescue in Crockenhill have stepped in.

SCAR, registered with the Charity Commission, agreed to rehome meerkats, raccoons, European eagle owls and a giant Asian water monitor lizard.

John Ranger, a founding member at SCAR, said: "It's a little bit mad, but it's what we do. We have a great team of supporters and volunteers and we agreed to pretty much rehome the zoo.

"We take on animals who would otherwise be put down or that have nowhere else to go. It's a lot of work because they are specialist animals but it's worth it.

"Me and my brother do all the building work, so for these new animals we had to build new enclosures and we do all that ourselves.

"The lizard is huge, it's about five feet!"

The volunteers have taken on eight meerkats, two European eagle owls, an Asian water monitor, one raccoon named Rocky, and dozens of birds.

SCAR tries to find 'forever homes' for animals where possible, but in the meantime gives animals a second chance.

Visits to see what SCAR does for the animals can be arranged at www.Secondchance-rehoming.co.uk.