A rare lemur is on the run from a Sussex zoo.

One-year-old Kirioka, a rare red-bellied Madagascan Lemur scaled a fence at Drusillas Park in Alfriston and disappeared.

The runaway primate vanished on Wednesday night and, despite numerous attempts to recapture it, is still running wild.

A motorist spotted the little lemur by the roadside near the zoo's entrance at 5.30am this morning.

A police patrol combed the area but were called off their search after an hour.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said the creature, which is about the size of a large domestic cat, was last seen heading north.

Members of staff at Drusillas suspended their normal duties and frantically searched woodland near the park.

Fire crews, including an aerial ladder team, were called to woods near to Berwick, near Lewes, about 1.45pm after a spotting.

A spokeswoman for East Sussex Fire Service said: "The troublesome primate has so far managed to abscond following an unsuccessful attempted sedation.

"The fire crew and Drusillas staff are working hard to resolve the situation."