A chimpanzee at Welsh Mountain Zoo has been filmed persuading visitors to help with an escape by making gestures at the lock on his enclosure.

The online video shows the chimp pointing its finger at a window bolt and mimicking the movement required to open it.

Alex Bailey, the visitor, can be heard saying: "He wants us to lift the window up."

The video has nearly amassed half a million views in just two weeks of being posted on the internet.

Referring to the recent incident, Peter Dickinson, a worker at Welsh Mountain Zoo said: "I have watched our animals sign to visitors, asking them to carry out certain behaviours. If a visitor is reproached by a member of staff, the excuse is always, but the chimp asked me to do it."