Last Esso advert tiger, Tango, dies in UK aged 22

The last surviving tiger from fuel giant Esso's "Tiger in Your Tank" adverts has died.

Tango, who was Britain’s oldest living tiger, was one of seven big cats to appear in the famous ads throughout the 1990s.

Only two years ago, Tango was rescued from a German circus that had been mistreating him as it toured Europe.

A British wildlife park eventually paid £250,000 to rescue Tango and re-home him in Lincolnshire, where he died at the weekend aged 22.

Watch the Esso tiger commercial below

“It is with great sadness that we must announce the passing away of Tango the tiger,” Woodside Wildlife Park said in a statement.

“Tango was Britain’s oldest tiger at the age of 22 and has been at Woodside for a happy, peaceful two-and-a half-year retirement following his rescue from a European circus".

Woodside spent six months and over a quarter of a million pounds to have Tango brought to the UK and prepare for his arrival after learning he was on the verge of being put down.

Julia, an eight-year-old mate, was brought back with Tango in 2014. She remains at the park.

At times the Belgian, French and UK governments all became involved in getting the tigers moved.

The "Tiger in Your Tank" campaign was first launched in 1959 and went on to become one of the most famous campaigns in advertising history.

The campaign is closely associated with Esso and ExxonMobil, who provide it with over a million dollars annually.