A £70,000 monkey house, reptile house and aquarium centre are to open at a rare breeds farm.

Ponderosa, off Smithies Lane, Heckmondwike, received £13,000 compensation from the Government because it had to shut for two-and-half months during last year's foot and mouth outbreak. Owners Howard and Maureen Cook put the cash towards building the new attractions, which could open in time for the school's summer holidays.

The farm has already acquired two marmoset monkeys who will make the enclosure their home. It is hoped to eventually have around eight monkeys who will live in a colony, and also to introduce Cappucin monkeys.

And farm worker Axel Barlow is pictured with another addition, a meerkat. Mr Cook said work on the new attractions was well underway.

"We are creating a 300sq ft monkey enclosure, a 300sq ft aquatic centre and a 500sq ft jurassica, a natural habitat for reptiles such as the iguanas, lizards, chameleons and snakes we have here, which will be an extension on the reptile house we have at the moment," he said.

"It will be a natural environment with trees and a lot of natural light. It will also be wheelchair accessible. All the enclosures will be able to be viewed from outside, for those who don't want to go in.

"We have bought an 8ft by 8ft tank, which is 4ft deep, for the aquatic animals such as turtles and crabs as well as the fish we have. The monkeys will be able to live inside and outside in the trees - they will have plenty of space to roam.

"We have found the reptile room we already have is very popular with schoolchildren - so popular in the summer that we almost haven't room for everyone."

The cash will also be spent on designing a new website, buying a digital camera and on disabled play equipment.

Christine Wilde, funding co-ordinator at Ponderosa, said: "When we applied for a grant, we didn't really expect to get it. We are over-the-moon because it means we can move forward and get facilities we need."

The resident donkeys have been moved to a bigger area to make room for the extended reptile house and a greenhouse has been moved to make way for a bird enclosure and an area for meerkats. A bigger play area for children is also to be built as well as an educational room for visiting school parties.

Mr Cook, who opened Ponderosa four years ago, is also hoping three acres of trout lakes - not built using grant money - will open at the same time.

The farm has applied for a zoo licence to cover all the animals.

"We are not introducing lions, elephants or giraffes, but need to get a zoo licence to cover the animals we already have," said Mr Cook.

The grant is part of a £6m cash fund from Yorkshire Forward to help businesses recovering from the foot and mouth crisis.