TWO rescued circus lions are on their way home thanks to a Sussex charity.

Jora and Black have begun their 10,500 mile journey from a circus in Bulgaria to their ancestral home in Africa.

The two seven-year-old brothers were rescued by Horsham-based Born Free in July this year from a cramped metal beast wagon near Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia.

The lions were flown from Bourgas airport to Gatwick on Saturday and will now travel by road in an approved quarantine vehicle to Heathrow, before the longest leg of their mammoth journey, flying to Johannesburg, before being taken to their new home Shamwari Game Reserve, just outside of Port Elizabeth.

Born Free Foundation co-founder, Virginia McKenna OBE, said: “It’s fantastic to see the animals have travelled so well. They still have a long way to go but I am really happy that with the generous public support we are able to offer them a wonderful new home with our friends at Shamwari Game Reserve. They deserve no less.”

To donate £3 to this important cause, text LIONS to 70007. For more information on Born Free visit www.bornfree.org.uk