Only in England would this make the news!

BBC NEWS | England | Tyne |
A teenage motorist has succeeded where sharp-shooters failed, by apparently killing a real-life 'were-rabbit' which was plaguing Northumberland allotments.

Snipers were asked to defend allotment patches in the village of Felton, which were suffering from their own 'curse of the were-rabbit'.

The ravenous giant rabbit, named after the famed Wallace and Gromit character, reportedly ripped up prize vegetables.

Now a teenage driver claims to have accidentally run over the animal.

Gardeners in Felton described the rabbit as having one ear larger than the other.

Cracked bumper

The animal, described as a cross between a hare and a rabbit, reportedly left oversized paw prints while destroying prize-winning leeks and turnips.

A small group of allotment holders clubbed together to hire two air rifle marksmen with orders to shoot to kill.

But now it appears the animal has been killed after being hit by a teenager who said the incident left her car bumper cracked.

Rael Rawlinson, from Alnwick, said she accidentally ran over a 'giant rabbit' on the A1 in Northumberland.

She said she left the creature, which she described as being at least 2ft long, by the roadside.

Villagers say they have not seen the creature in weeks.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) had urged the growers to set a humane trap for the animal and release it elsewhere.

Pete's Points

Only in England could anyone call a rabbit that managed to get up to 2 ft long as being a 'giant were rabbit"

Most people who go out spotlighting rabbits in Australia would simply call something of this size 'well fed'.

Given the prize vegetables that this animal is accused of having eaten, this descriptor would be more accurate.

I am afraid that this article is reminiscent of the advert on television these days, which shows an ignoramus parent, answering a child's plaintive request for information about why the great wall of China was built, with an inane (not to mention inaccurate) comment about it having been built in the time of the "Emperor Nasi Goreng to keep the rabbits out."

The world I guess is going to the rabbits - especially since many of the dogs in China seem to be in a precarious situation. (see earlier story).