Terrifying footage has emerged of the moment a 29-stone gorilla tried to smash its way out of its enclosure at London Zoo.

The video, filmed yesterday, shows the western lowland silverback - called Kumbuka - trying to smash through the window, causing panic in the crowd.

According to reports, when the gorilla escaped, visitors to the zoo were never actually in any danger, as the animal did breach its enclosure boundary but only entered the secure keepers' area.

Armed police were dispatched to zoo but the incident came to an end when Kumbuka was tranquilised by vets.

This is the terrifying moment an angry 29-stone gorilla smashed its way out of an enclosure at London Zoo after crowds were warned about taunting him