Trained firearms staff and police were involved in the evacuation.

Conservation charity Wildwood Devon, near Exeter, revealed that two European brown bears named Mish and Lucy broke free before making their way to the food store and eating 'a week's worth of honey.'

An alarm for evacuation was raised yesterday afternoon when 16 people, including children, were locked into a play barn.

Trained firearms staff and police were involved in the evacuation.

Director of zoological operations at Wildwood Trust, Mark Habben, said the public were 'not in harm's way' and emergency procedures were deployed.

An investigation has now been launched by the trust into how the bears escaped. There were no signs of enclosure damage.

"Both bears are extremely happy. The team were very, very calm, as were the bears at all points.

"The public were not in harm's way, emergency procedures and everyone did the job they were intended to do," said Habben.

He continued: "They were in an area where we keep enrichment - all the nice things.

"The bears had a feast, played around, pulled some rope out."

He continued to praise staff for remaining 'very calm throughout', not breaching any public areas, choosing instead to remain at the back of the bear house.

"They were wandering up and down, having a sniff around, looking in the store cupboard where honey was stored.

"That was fortuitously left open, so they raided that."

The bears returned to their enclosure, Mish making her way back by herself while Lucy was lured back.

Wildwood Devon gave an update on social media: "The exhibit is secure, and we are grateful to our staff and visitors for their cooperation, which helped us resolve the situation swiftly and safely."

The park opened as usual today.