A rescue centre for exotic animals is holding a ‘family fun day’ fundraiser after a setback forced it to close its public mini-zoo earlier this year.

Cookham Rescue Centre plans to host performances by a Whitney Houston tribute act as well as local musicians at Bruce’s Doggy Day Care Centre on Long Lane on August 25.

Rescue centre owner Connor Clegg told the Observer the aim of the day is to ‘raise as much money as possible for the animals themselves'.

The event is the latest in a series of fundraisers after Mr Clegg was forced to close his Cookham Zoo following a planning and licensing dispute with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council.

The Zoo opened in May 2023 and featured animals such as ring-tailed lemurs, polecat-ferrets, Brazilian cavy, and caracals.

But the zoo had yet to be issued planning permission – which was refused by the council in March this year on the basis that it would cause harm to the green belt.

The council said installing metal containers, fencing and hard surfacing for the zoo would be ‘alien’ to and at odds with the surrounding open farmland.

Without planning permission, the council was also unable to grant it a zoo licence. Mr Clegg has since said he plans to continue operating the rescue centre without a public zoo.