A British tourist has been attacked by an angry lion after patting the animal on the bottom while posing for photos in a Thailand zoo.

Boxer Robbie Gaine, 29 from Garden City, Flintshire, was on holiday with friends when the group decided to go to see lions, tigers, leopards and elephants at a zoo.

The site allows visitors to enter a cage with a zookeeper where a lion is tethered to a concrete block with a 2ft chain.

While in the cage, Robbie touched the 400lb lion on the rump and ended up running for cover when it turned on him, The Daily Post reports.

The lion tried to launch at him but was held back by its chain.

However, Robbie agitated the lion even more when he ran for cover to the animal's sleeping quarters.

In tense moments, Robbie refused to leave the area out of fear the lion may be able to reach him.