Updated May 30, 2017 09:18:15

A zookeeper has been mauled to death by a tiger in an enclosure at Hamerton Zoo Park, 130 kilometres north of London.

Cambridgeshire Police were called to the zoo late on Monday morning after the tiger had entered the enclosure with the keeper.

"Sadly the female zookeeper died at the scene," they said in a statement.

The zoo said in a statement that a "freak accident" was to blame for the death.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with our colleagues, friends and families at this dreadful time," the statement said.

Hamerton Zoo posted a statement on its website saying staff members were too "distressed" to speak the media about the death. The zoo is expected to be closed on Tuesday while an investigation continues.

The 25-acre wildlife park houses rare and endangered animals, including both Malaysian and white Bengal tigers.

The tiger never escaped from the enclosure, and police said foul play was not suspected in the keeper's death.

An eyewitness told local media the other zookeepers desperately tried to shoo the animal away from her.

Pete Davies, 55, was at the zoo with his son when he saw zookeepers rushing over to the enclosure.

He described hearing the woman's screams.

"The zookeepers had their heads in their hands, and didn't know what to do, throwing meat over the enclosure to entice the tiger away. They shouted stuff," Mr Davies told Cambridge News.

Visitors were evacuated when the incident began and an air ambulance was summoned to provide emergency help for the victim, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

An eyewitness said visitors were removed calmly and that there was no panic.

Police did not release information about the tiger and the victim has not been named.

ABC/AP

Topics: zoos, animal-attacks, human-interest, death, united-kingdom

First posted May 30, 2017 08:08:18