PLAYFUL primates at Dudley Zoo are getting in the spooky spirit in the run up to Halloween.

The orangutans and chimpanzees have been making ghoulish costumes out of towels, sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers.

But stocks are now running low so the zoo is appealing to visitors to help replenish them.

Assistant curator, Jay Haywood, said: “Our great apes love playing with sheets and concoct a variety of games with them - at this time of year they can make great ghost costumes!

“They use them to wrap themselves up in, they drape them over their heads, or make hammocks out of them and even take them to bed as extra comfy nesting material.

"But after being dragged around their enclosure and dens the sheets only really withstand a day’s play and then we have to throw them away, so we’re constantly going through supplies.”

Any donations of clean sheets, towels, duvet covers can be handed to the customer services team in the zoo's Safari Shop.