The monkeys are worth thousands of pounds

The animals were taken from Oban Zoological World, which was created by animal lovers at their home in the town of Oban.

The theft follows Gordon and Anne Rollinson's decision to sell off their entire stock of 120 animals.

Strathclyde Police said the monkeys were stolen overnight on Tuesday and are valued in excess of �10,000.

The Rollinsons opened the zoo at their two-bedroom cottage just three years ago.

Among the wildlife in the garden were wallabies, squirrel monkeys, lemurs, marmosets, pygmy goats and lizards.

The couple, both in their 60s, decided to retire to Spain but were unable to sell their home with the zoo attached.

They were actively looking for new homes for the menagerie when the break-in occurred on Tuesday night.

In all, 15 monkeys have been taken and according to Mr Rollinson the thieves had to go through five locks to get at the animals.