WE all know that children can't wait to rip open their presents on Christmas Day.

But one "baby" takes the task so seriously, his parents can't put the presents under the Christmas tree.

He's not an eager little boy or girl, but a ten-month-old gibbon who has made his mark on one North Yorkshire family's festive season.

Odo has been living with Sam de Belle and partner Jamie Tapper since he was rejected by his mother shortly after he was worn.

He has fitted in so well with the pair, both keepers at Flamingo Land, near Pickering, that he has now become a big part of their Christmas plans.

Jamie said: "He's like a baby, really. We have to keep an eye on him all the time, and he just doesn't understand the word no.

"We've got presents for each other, but we can't leave them under the tree. Odo just loves ripping up paper and they wouldn't last five minutes."

Updated: 15:01 Thursday, December 19, 2002