Staff at Dudley Zoo are getting on their bikes to boost the chances for endangered wild African "painted" hunting dogs.

Wild Dog Week, which lasts until Sunday (August 30), has been organised by zoo keepers Nicola Wright and Jodie Dryden.

Young visitors to the top Dudley attraction can take part in a colouring competition and people can also adopt a hunting dog or get their own faces painted.

All the money raised will got to the Painted Dog Conservation charity in Zimbabwe, whose representatives visited the zoo in May to talk about their work.

On Saturday and Sunday, zoo staff will take turns to cycle on two exercise bikes, loaned by neighbours at The Village Hotel, in the castle courtyard.

And, during the weekend, there will also be special talks on the species - known as "painted dogs" because of the unique patterned markings on their coat - and a "name the hunting dog" competition, with a chance to win a cuddly wild dog.

Head of lower primates at the zoo, Nicola Wright, said: "We're hoping to cycle 900km between us as that represents the home range of hunting dogs in Africa.

"It would be great if visitors could save up their small change and bring in their donations throughout the week to help save these dogs in the wild."

The painted dogs have big ears to help them keep cool and give them an acute sense of hearing - a useful asset for hunting.

Populations of the species are in serious decline because they are seen as a threat to livestock, destruction of their habitat and diseases including rabies and distemper.

There were once around 500,000 hunting dogs in Africa - but that has now fallen to 3,000.