Two bears rescued from horrendous concrete pits in Bulgaria have been enjoying their first steps in their new woodland home.

Milco and Gosho were bred to be hunted by the former communist regime before being abandoned in their grim mountain compound, with locals doing their best to feed them with porridge.

But last year following a public appeal which raised £50,000 the pair were given a new home at the Wildwood wildlife park in Herne Common.

Wildwood chief executive Peter Smith was among those who helped rescue the bears. He said: “Seeing them in such terrible conditions was truly heart-breaking, but they have made amazing progress since coming to Wildwood.

“We are truly thrilled that they are now fit enough to be able to test out their new enclosure and would like to thank everyone who has helped make this a reality, from our members and donors, to the teams of volunteers who came together to help complete their new woodland home.”

A special 1.5-acre enclosure was built for the bears, which will be a stark contrast to the solitary confinement they experienced in their old home.

Previously they had never left the barren concrete cells and were starved of their curiosity. Since arriving at Wildwood they have been fed a special diet to boost their weight.

But now Wildwood staff say they are under no illusions about the challenges ahead. Park manager Jon May said: “We are thrilled that the bears are now starting to experience their new enclosure, however we are still relying on donations for their ongoing care and long-term rehabilitation.”

He added that the first steps into the new enclosure are just the first milestone for the bears, and that there will be many more important steps in the 35 years they are expected to live.

Wildwood has therefore launched a further public appeal to raise funds for their long-term care and rehabilitation.

Visitors can now see the bears as they start to explore the enclosure. To find out more about the appeal visit www.wildwoodtrust.org/donate.