A man has been charged with the theft of a rare monkey from Chessington World of Adventures.

The squirrel monkey, known as SpongeBob, went missing from the theme park and zoo in July but was later found being played with by children in Clapham.

Officers from Kingston's burglary team arrested a 22-year-old Marlon Brown, from Brixton, in connection with the monkey's theft this morning at around 8.45am.

SpongeBob is currently back at the Leatherhead Road park but has not been able to be put back with the rest of his troop.

One of the girl monkeys bit his foot and he may now need surgery. The park has built him a separate enclosure so he can recover in peace.

Keepers will move SpongeBob to Battersea Park this weekend.

He has also started a weblog, entitled SpongeBlog, to chart his progress.

Mr Brown will appear at Kingston magistrate's court on September 14.

Click here to keep track of Bob's movements.