Rare baby penguins have hatched at Wingham Wildlife Park near Canterbury - becoming the first of their kind to be hand-reared in Kent.

Lovebird Humboldt penguins Lily and Palamedes became proud parents to the chicks when they emerged from their shells.

The arrivals have been described as important for the species, which is vulnerable due to over-fishing and sea pollution.

Park owner Tony Binskin said: "When it comes to the end of the incubation period for any bird, it is always very exciting.

"But when it is something as rare as a penguin, that excitement is multiplied over and over."

The chicks weighed just 70g when they hatched - but after several feeds a day - they have piled on the pounds to tip the scales at almost 1kg each.

But despite their speedy development, they need to be checked regularly for health issues.

Tony added: "Even though we like to make sure we interfere as little as possible to give the parents a fighting chance at becoming good parents, we do like to keep a close eye on these guys.

"They can be prone to a variety of health problems as babies, and when they first hatch they really are quite fragile little things."

After their first chick died a week after hatching last year, the penguin pair is fiercely protective of its new brood.

Visitors might be able to catch a glimpse of them in their nesting cave, before they venture into the main penguin enclosure for the first time in the next few weeks.

Tony's wife Jackie said: "We can't wait for them to finally make an appearance. I think they are going to be a huge hit with the public when they take their first steps out of their nesting cave."

Members of the public will then be invited to name the new additions.