Our mane presents

First Christmas in new home for Ukraine lions

- LUCY THORNTON

A FAMILY of lions freed from Ukraine have enjoyed their first Christmas at their new home.

The playful pride, who arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in March, have a growing fan club since the Mirror revealed their story.

This week, they were happily playing with their Christmas present of a yellow egg-shaped ball.

Colin Northcott, 60, one of the park's carnivore experts, travelled to Poland to bring the rescued lions to Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

He said: "I'm chuffed to bits with them. They have settled in fantastically well and you'd think they'd been here forever.

"They were indoors when they were in Poland and a few weeks ago they saw their first flurry of snow...and ignored it. They all sleep together - ever since they were first reunited here. They are just a hugely happy group of lions who are loving life at the moment."