MONKEY World will open its gates in June for free when it invites its world-wide family to come in for a day and celebrate the life of its founder Jim Cronin.

Thousands of Daily Echo readers were devastated when it was announced the renowned conservationist had died in New York in March, just weeks after being diagnosed with liver cancer.

On June 24 the park will close for a day for a private memorial service, but the doors will be thrown open on June 30 to give the sanctuary's supporters a chance to pay their own tributes to Jim.

There will be plenty of fun activities, entertainers, including a clown, and live music. Entrance will be free, although visitors will be asked to make a donation to the Jim Cronin Memorial Fund.

Jim's widow Dr Alison Cronin, who has vowed to carry on her husband's 20 years of remarkable work at the ape rescue centre, said: "I would love people to come along and keep the dream alive.

"We rely on the community who support our work at the park and abroad, so it's important we give people the chance to come in and remember Jim and celebrate his life." In the coming weeks Alison will also oversee a lasting memorial at Monkey World, which will be set in the midst of a group of oak trees, where Jim's ashes will be buried.

It will be a quiet place where visitors can spend a moment to remember Jim as they look over the park he built and enjoy the stunning views of the Purbecks he himself loved so much.

Alison also explained that the money raised for the Jim Cronin Memorial fund will be used to build a state-of-the-art education centre at the park where visitors can learn about the plight of apes and what they can do to help.