The investigation into the theft of two monkeys from Cotswold Wildlife Park is still ongoing despite their safe return police said last night.

Squirrel monkeys Stripe and Deana were taken from the park near Burford in west Oxfordshire on Monday night and it was feared they had been stolen to order.

However, a mysterious tip-off on Wednesday saw them returned safely.

PC Simon Towers, wildlife officer for Thames Valley Police, said last night: “Even though the monkeys have been returned, our criminal investigation continues.

“We are treating the incident very seriously as the theft of a rare species has national implications.

“We have a number of leads, which we can’t disclose at this time, but we are following them up vigorously.”