REDDITCH rabbit owners are being urged to claim their lost pets due to a shortage of places in rabbit foster homes.

Worcestershire RSPCA volunteer Geraldine Haynes said many rabbits had recently been found in the Redditch area and the five rabbit foster homes were full.

She added about 80 per cent of all lost rabbits in the county were found in Redditch - a huge proportion as Worcestershire RSPCA covers Redditch, Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Worcester, Upton, Malvern and Pershore - and the RSPCA was desperate to find good homes for them.

Rabbits were found in St George's Road and Station Road, Studley, last week and in Meadow Lane, Alvechurch, the previous week.

The rabbit in St George's Road was female, lop-eared and a light chocolate colour with a dewlap - an extra flap of skin around its neck.

A tri-coloured male was found in Station Road and an un-neutered male, mostly white with stick-up ears and brown spots along its spine was found in Meadow Lane, and both were in good condition.

Mrs Haynes said people could either call the RSPCA national call centre to report they had found a stray rabbit or take them to their local vet, who would then contact the RSPCA.

To claim a lost rabbit or offer any animal a home, call Mrs Haynes on 01886 822083 in the evenings.