An otter family tried 'gatecrashing' an apartment block in Singapore - but failed when some of the fatter members couldn't slip past the narrow bars keeping out intruders.

The romp was filmed swarming around the entrance of the Ascentia Sky condominium in Alexandra View on April 17, with some of the otters slipping through the gate with ease. Their plans of a break-in hit a snag, however, as not everyone was slender enough to sneak in.

Video shows the plumper mammals struggling to squeeze into the gate's tight gaps to no avail. Undeterred, they then tried to cram themselves through the fences on the sides, but that too proved futile since they were simply too large to fit.

After about a minute, the family decided to abort the botched mission, and opted to leave instead. They were seen scampering off towards another area in defeat. A small otter screeched as it appeared to have been left behind, but it later managed to reunite with the group.

Otters are members of the weasel family, and are known to be intelligent and playful creatures. Their social structures vary per species, with some otters being solitary while others prefer to live in groups.