Penguins at Sea Life London Aquarium will get a better enclosure with natural light and a bigger pool following concerns about their welfare, the aquarium's owners have said.

Merlin Entertainments said it would create a new "enhanced home, with significantly enlarged water space, and natural light" for the London penguins as well as 17 from Birmingham Sealife. The company also said it would stop breeding gentoo penguins at both centres.

Animal welfare groups have welcomed the announcement.

In a statement released on Friday, Merlin Entertainments said the announcement came after "months of collaborative work with Freedom for Animals, the Born Free Foundation and PETA, a wild penguin researcher, a veterinarian, and BIAZA".

"The new home will be designed with input from the wild penguin researcher to become a conservation research centre of excellence," it said.

"We care deeply about these penguins and have always been focused on providing them with the best possible life, now and in the future.

"We are grateful for the energy, expertise and time everyone has invested."

The improved enclosure will be at either the London or Birmingham centre, with full details to be announced in September.

Laura Walton, co-director of Freedom for Animals, said: "While improved conditions can never resolve the fundamental ethical issue of captivity, we recognise that the proposed measures would make a material difference to the lives of these penguins.

"Importantly, Merlin Entertainments' commitment to permanently end gentoo penguin breeding at both Sea Life London Aquarium and Sea Life Birmingham is a significant step forward."