China's 'gift' to zoo: two giant pandas

Two giant pandas are to be brought to Britain under a new agreement with China. The breeding pair, described as a gift from China, will be the first giant pandas to reside in the UK for 17 years.

The animals will be housed at Edinburgh Zoo, under the custodianship of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS). Bosses at the zoo hailed the agreement as a "landmark day" for the visitor attraction.

The agreement between the British and Chinese governments was signed at Lancaster House in London.

The pandas will be housed in a specially refurbished enclosure which was formerly home to gorillas. A delegation from the Chinese Wildlife Conservation Association will visit Edinburgh this week to see the zoo.