Staff at a zoo in West Lothian took the "heartbreaking" decision to put down a rescued brown bear after she developed an incurable spine condition.

Keepers at the Five Sisters Zoo, near Polbeth, noticed Peggy had been dragging her hind legs for several weeks and specialist vets were called in to asses her.

She was one of three European brown bears who were brought to the zoo in 2012 after they had been mistreated in a travelling circus in continental Europe.

The three animals had been left with a variety of health issues due to the conditions they suffered during the 20 years they spent at the circus.

Peggy, who was thought to be around 30, had a dent in her nose suspected to be from a muzzle fitted by the circus.

Vets took the decision to put her down on Tuesday after detailed checks revealed she could not be cured.

A spokeswoman for the zoo said: "Peggy was anaesthetised and given a detailed examination by a team of six specialist veterinarians.

"Whilst asleep it was found that she was very sadly developing an irreversible degeneration of her spine.

"This was only going to progress and result in more severe pain and the heartbreaking decision had to be made by the specialists and staff to let Peggy go rather than allow her to suffer."

She added: "Despite Peggy's years of suffering before being rescued, she turned out to be such a happy forgiving character once she arrived at her new home at the zoo.

"Peggy, you will be truly missed by us all."

The three bears, Peggy, Suzy and Carmen, arrived at Five Sisters Zoo from a rescue centre in Belgium.

A specialist enclosure allowed them to hibernate for the first time in their lives.