A zoo hopes holiday shoppers will consider buying a unique gift for their loved ones - elephant dung.

Colchester Zoo has joined forces with an African company to produce a "Safari Poo Planter" comprising a plant pot, grass seeds and a packet of dung compost.

Zoo curator Antony Tropeano told BBC Radio Essex sales will bring in cash and take advantage of an abundant resource.

He said: "We do produce a fair amount of this stuff."

The zoo has five elephants and is expecting two more.

Mr Tropeano said the money raised through sale of the planters will be put into conservation.