FAMILIES helped by a bereavement charity came face-to-face with exotic animals during a trip to Cotswold Wildlife Park.

People involved with Headington based SeeSaw, a charity which helps children through bereavement, visited the park, near Burford, to deliver the holiday treats.

The park invited the families last week to spend a day meeting the animals.

And thanks to the charity, the Oxford Mail meerkats were treated to an Easter egg.

In 2009, the Mail adopted three meerkats from the park, with readers helping to choose their names.

Moppy.com, Pumpkin and Carfax were among those who were fed decorated Easter eggs.

Among the children enjoying the trip was Callum Wakeford, eight, from Botley, Oxford. He said: “I absolutely loved it.

“I especially liked the giraffe – he nearly pulled my arm off!”

Debbie Ryan, spokesman for the park, said keepers were delighted to welcome the children to meet the animals.

She said: “SeeSaw helps Oxfordshire children and their families both before and after a major bereavement. The group helps them to move forward and to face the future with hope.

“They support children when a parent or sibling has died, or is dying, and is a charity the park wholeheartedly supports.

“We were proud to have the children, families, carers and staff spend the day at the park.”