Rugeley and Cannock Mercury reporter Andrew Wragg attended a star-studded bash at Twycross Zoo and felt his temperature rise when Hollywood star Liz Hurley opened its latest attraction. Here, he tells of his brush with the glamour puss – as well as TV’s Terry Nutkins!

Teetering on her six-inch heels, glamour puss Elizabeth Hurley pulled the cord and declared Twycross Zoo’s South American Tropical House officially open.

The Be-dazzling movie star made a short speech, in which she declared her love of monkeys and her bemusement at the ‘hideous creation’ she had encountered inside its steamy confines.

Ms Hurley had been invited to Twycross to inaugurate the new attraction following previous environmental involvement with Chester Zoo.

She arrived fashionably late – which didn’t faze the gathered media who sat guzzling Lanson champagne and eating salmon canapes.

Looking tanned and immaculate in a cream suit and brown pointed shoes, she breezed past the battery of photographers jostling for position and that winning snapshot.

A hush descended across the hundreds gathered in an enormous white marquee, adorned with tropical trees and dotted with refreshment stations.

Electric anticipation crackled through the tent as Twycross director Suzanne Boardman climbed atop the wooden plinth and welcomed the congregation to the zoo.

And then came the moment all had been waiting for: “I would now like to welcome one of the best known show business faces in the world,” she exalted.

“She finds time to lend her support and be a staunch advocate for the conservation of wildlife, Ms Elizabeth Hurley.”

Flash bulbs went into a frenzy as digital media captured thousands of images of the Austin Powers vixen.

Pic: Tony Swift

Slightly unsteady on her ultra-high heels, Ms Hurley took the stage and delivered a disarmingly honest, surprisingly witty speech with that bumbling-posh affectation that she, Hugh Grant and Boris Johnson are masters at.

“Thank you, that was an unbelievably kind introduction, I am not worthy of that, I can be appallingly behaved I promise,” she said, to enthusiastic assent from the hacks.

“I wasn’t sure what a tropical house would be like but now I have seen it, I can say it is one of the most special things to be found in a zoo.

“I was amazed at the uncaged animals and some hideous creation curled up in the corner. What was it called?

“Kids can go into that room and sense that they are somewhere special, it is such a treat that I couldn’t recommend more that people come and bring their children.

“As you may know, I have a great interest in monkeys.

“My mother’s house is called Monkeys and I have a film company called Simian Films.

“Twycross is a most incredible zoo and I couldn’t recommend it enough, so it is my absolute pleasure to open the Tropical House.”

And with that – and a frantic Press clambering – she tiptoed off, outside the tent and across the grass to an awaiting virgin ribbon and a pair of scissors.

As the media scrum trailed in her wake, a zoo director offered me a guided tour through the tropical hothouse.

Then, to my surprise, I spotted an unlikely star who had been forgotten in the Hurley burley of the afternoon.

Terry Nutkins – television’s former Animal Magic presenter – crossed the bridge behind me and was happy to pass comment on the tropical attraction.

“I think it is magnificent,” he enthused.

“It is exactly what we need in this country because it provides an insight for people who have never visited a tropical part of the world, or a jungle.

“It is real – educational, exciting and colourful…and warm!”

Outside in the September sunshine Ms Hurley appeared from a tour of the tropical house wearing brown-framed sunglasses and flanked by zoo officials.

She said a warm thank you to the crowd and turned to leave, but was hounded by a Sun reporter who took an ill-timed stab at asking her her opinion of Kate Moss’ recent faux pas.

Brushing him aside in film star style with a flick of the wrist and lightening quick comment, she paced off across the grass.

Armed with this week’s Herald, I considered giving chase but as she disappeared around the corner of a building, I consoled myself that her million-dollar image had not been compromised by posing aside a local Wragg.