Meerkat pups have been introduced to their new home for the first time under the watchful eye of their parents.

The five-week old siblings explored their outdoor area as they ventured out of the warmth of their enclosure at Tilgate Park Nature Centre in Tilgate Drive, Crawley.

Jasmine Cobb, who works at the centre, oversaw the introduction and watched the pups open their eyes to their new surroundings.

She was not alone, because one of the older members of the meerkat clan kept watch as the other two were busy hunting for food and making regular trips back to the box to check the youngsters.

The pups were born on April 18 after a male and two females arrived at the park in January.

The new arrivals will be a welcome addition to the park given the popularity of their parents with the guests.