POLICE are investigation how a Scots zoo keeper came to be in an enclosure with a tiger which mauled her to death.

Sarah McClay, 24, who was originally from Glasgow, was attacked by a Sumatran tiger at the South Lakes Wild Animal Park, in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, where she worked.

The attack happened on Friday and McClay was taken by air ambulance to Royal Preston Hospital but died later from her injuries.

Det Supt Andrew Slattery from Cumbria Police said the inquiry was centred on "the management of dangerous animals".

Police said the tiger was locked in its enclosure following the attack and that members of the public were not at any risk during the incident.

David Gill, the owner and founder of South Lakes Wild Animal Park, said McClay was very experienced in looking after big cats and he had no explanation as to why she had entered the enclosure.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "After investigation by the authorities here and the police, it does seem that she just basically failed to follow the correct procedures."

"For some unknown reason, an inexplicable reason, because there is no reason for why she did it, she opened the door and went into the tiger enclosure and straight into the tigers," he added.

Gill said McClay had worked at the wildlife park for a number of years and was "very proficient" in her work with big cats.

He said that it was against strict safety protocols to walk into the tiger's cage, adding that the zoo had passed a major inspection last Monday, in which it was praised for its safety standards.

Gill said there was "no reason" for McClay to be in the enclosure with the tigers.