Deer at Wildwood have been vaccinated to help prevent the spread of bluetongue.

A dart gun loaded with a vaccination was aimed on the herds of red, fallow and roe deer at the Herne Common conservation park.

Head keeper Paul Wirdnam said: “We normally try to do this type of thing when the park is closed.

“But with so many animals we had to do the vaccination with members of the public watching, which once we explained what we were doing drew quite a crowd.”

The bluetongue virus was first spotted in the UK among cattle in East Anglia last September. Cattle, goats, deer and sheep are susceptible, and while non-contagious it is spread by midges.

The virus does not affect humans.

Wildwood deer will be given a repeat of the vaccination in three weeks and then again every six months.