A monkey will have her choice of three admirers on Valentine's Day.

Jamie Craig, head zookeeper at Drusillas Park, Alfriston, will be stepping into Cilla Black's shoes to pair up Alice, a red-handed Tamarin, with one of three brothers Billy, Harry and Ed.

Mr Craig said: "Billy, being the youngest, is a bit of a mummy's boy and enjoys snuggling up with Alice on cold winter days.

"Harry is definitely the dominant male and has no hesitation in causing a bit of a scuffle to attract her attention.

"Ed, despite being the largest of the three, is quiet and shy and finds it difficult to display his feelings."

Zoo owners hope Alice will start breeding in the next two years with one of the males.

Mr Craig said: "Alice has settled in very well among the group and I believe she will certainly be making the most of all her attention on St Valentine's Day."

To help woo Alice the monkeys' enclosure will be decorated with red and pink hearts. Apples and bananas cut into hearts will also help the mood.

Red-handed tamarins come from the rainforests of Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana and Surinam.

The group was introduced to each other in the autumn.