THE new chief executive of Edinburgh Zoo took up his post yesterday as it emerged the giant pandas have doubled visitor numbers to the attraction.

After one of the most turbulent times in the animal park's 103-year history, Professor Chris West is taking over from acting chief executive Hugh Roberts. He previously led the panda project at Adelaide Zoo in Australia, where he has worked for the past six years.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) appointed Mr West after a troubled 18 months at the zoo, which Mr Roberts described yesterday as a time of "great transition and transformation". The zoo descended into turmoil last year ahead of the arrival of the giant pandas from China after anonymous allegations over the conduct of a number of managers sparked events that led to the sacking of one executive, the suspension and then clearing of two others.

Chairman Donald Emslie resigned and acting chief executive Gary Walker also later resigned. The zoo was also told to conduct a review of its financial controls after an inquiry into the earlier claims cash was siphoned from the organisation by an employee and a separate complaint about a funding package for pandas.

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator said there had been no misappropriation, but said the review was needed.

The zoo said yesterday the pandas have brought a welcome boost with 300,000 visitors passing through the bears' enclosure alone and with the knock-on effect of twice the rate of visitors to the zoo than before the arrival of Yang Guang and Tian Tian last December.

It is hoped as many as a million visitors could pass through the zoo gates by the end of the year.

Mr Roberts, the former Sunderland Football Club chief executive who is now to retire, said yesterday: "The last 14 months have flown by and it has been a time of great transition and transformation for the society. RZSS can certainly look forward with great confidence to the future. Finally, I just want to thank everyone for their help and support during my time with the RZSS. At points it's been challenging, but always extremely rewarding, I leave with extremely fond memories of my time here."

Speaking earlier, Mr West said the post was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".