A BRIDE surprised her new husband with a special wedding gift – a trip to see his secret love...meerkats.

When Dan Gillian popped the question to his fiancee Nicole, she knew the ultimate gift would be a trip to see the mammals which he loves so much.

So, one week after exchanging their vows, Nicole suprised her newhubby with a trip to the Tropical Wings Zoo, in South Woodham Ferrers.

Dan, from Vange, and his wife were allowed in with the Meerkats and one was even pictured climbing on his leg.

Sheila Roberts, assistant reception manager at the Tropical Wings Zoo, said: “I really enjoyed setting up this experience for Dan and Nicole.

“It was great fun and I think they both had a great time.

“Staff at the zoo joined in with the spirit of the experience by making a vegetable wedding bouquet and buttonhole for the meerkats to enjoy.”

Meerkats are part of the Mongoose family and originate fromBotswana in Africa.

They have become popular since an animated meerkat character started presenting adverts for insurance comparison website Compare the Market.

His catchprase is “simples”.