HORRIFIED zoo visitors watched as a lion savaged an owl which flew into its enclosure.

Women and children cried as Ash, the barn owl, was clubbed out of the air by a female lion at Colchester Zoo on Saturday.

The bird was sent crashing into the lion cage, after leaving his raptor handler, who was holding a display at around 4pm.

A male lion seized the owl and ate it in front of scores of on-lookers.

Zoo keepers were on scene within minutes to evacuate the crowd and close the area.

Alex Downing, zoo marketing director, said: “We are very sad to report that our little barn owl, Ash, sadly died at the weekend.

“There is nothing anyone could have done.”

Full story and visitors reactions in Tuesday's Gazette.