London Zoo has marked Succot by building a succah - or "zooccah" - for community members to eat, pray and socialise in.

A joint project between the zoo and South Hampstead Synagogue, the succah, which has been decorated by children from the local shul, opened to the public today.

Zoo succa

The zoo-cah is open until Friday October 6 (Photo: ZSL)

The zoo worked with Rabbi Shlomo Levin to ensure the structure is halachically compliant, and has begun welcoming families eager to celebrate the harvest festival surrounded by nature.

The project was the brainchild of Matthew Gould, the Jewish CEO of the Zoological Society of London, and Rabbi Levin.

Gould previously told the JC: “London Zoo is the perfect place for Succot.

"Our animals and beautiful gardens offer a powerful connection to nature, and our conservation work is a wonderful example of tikkun olam [repairing the world].”

Zoo succah

London Zoo is helping the community to celebrate the harvest festival (Photo: ZSL)

Customers are able to buy kosher food to eat in the shelter,w hich will remain open until Friday afternoon. Entry to the zooccah is free with a ticket for the zoo.

Gould was the first Jewish British ambassador to Israel and was the first ambassador to put a succah in the garden of the ambassadorial residence in Ramat Gan.