Alice's 'Wonderland' figures light up Belgian zoo

The zoo said 18,000 lights were used to bring alive more than 200 hundred figures including a 6-metre high version of the eponymous heroine, the Cheshire Cat and the White Rabbit.

The Mad Hatter presides over a 6-metre long table topped with spinning teacups, with a soundtrack of ethereal music.

Most of the installations, built from cloth stretched over steel frames, were made in China.

Opening night on Thursday was reserved for zoo staff and their families, who were an easy public to win over.

"It means something, especially now with coronavirus with everything starting to close again. I do think that it is a bright spot!" said volunteer vet Freya Vandevoort.

On Friday the Belgian government met to discuss new restrictions to rein in COVID-19 infections with some calling for the closure of parts of the cultural sector including theatres and cinemas.