Port Lympne Reserve has tonight confirmed that a big cat managed to escape its enclosure this afternoon.

Visitors were ushered into "safe areas" while the cheetah was on the loose.

In a statement, the park said the creature was out of its enclosure for about 25 minutes before being encouraged back in with food.

During this time, the park ran a "full procedure" and visitors were ushered to safe areas as is standard practice.

Animal director Adrian Harland said: "The cheetah was calm and pacing the enclosure fence looking to get back in.

"Some food was thrown into the enclosure and the cheetah walked back in to get it. No vet intervention was needed.

"The full escape procedure was run because the safari lorries travel past the enclosure.

"This particular cheetah was no real threat to our guests. He only climbed out to get back with his mother after having been separated to stop him eating all her dinner.

"We have secured the enclosures perimeter fencing to ensure that the cheetah cannot climb out again."

Visitor Alice Snape took to Twitter to say her group had hid in a toilet during the incident.

There were also other reports on social media that visitors were placed in the tapir enclosure and the park's gift shop.