England's World Cup hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst faced some unusual opponents when he visited Port Lympne zoo at the weekend.

But the 1996 cup winner said the gorillas at the wildlife park weren't interested in showing off their skills.

After touring their enclosure, he said: “We threw them a ball but one of them tried to eat it. I think he thought it was a piece of fruit.”

Sir Geoff was visiting the zoo to oversee a childrens’ football tournament called the Congo Cup, sponsored by fast food chain McDonald’s.

The former West Ham United striker, who also once played a game of first class cricket for Essex, is director of the McDonald’s football programme, which helps pay for youth coaching throughout Britain.

He took time to praise the work of Port Lympne and the Aspinal Foundation in rearing threatened animals and reintroducing them to the wild.

“What they do with endangered species is fantastic,” he said. “I’m a big wildlife fan.

“It was fantastic to see these magnificent animals first hand, it’s just a shame they are under threat.”

More pictures in Thursday's Kentish Express