THE freezing weather does not seem to be affecting the animals at a South Devon wildlife charity.

Despite the cold The Shaldon Wildlife Trust in Teignmouth has had some new additions to its collection.

Trust director Tracey Moore said: "There is terrific excitement as our meerkats have had triplets."

The babies were born to a female meerkat who came from Drusillas Zoo, near Brighton, and a male from Paignton Zoo.

"The babies are all doing very well and are starting to emerge from their den and spend time in the outside enclosure."

The trust has also had tree shrew twins born.

Mrs Moore said: "These insectivores from south east Asia are highly unusual in that the infants are left in a nest separate from that used by its parents and are visited by the mother only once every 48 hours for suckling.

"After each suckling visit the infant is left with their stomach bulging with milk and this is gradually used up."