RABBITS are being blamed for causing rush-hour traffic delays on a busy route near Wallingford.

They are believed to have burrowed beneath the busy A329 at the junction with Halfpenny Lane, between Moulsford and Cholsey, and now repairs could take months and tens of thousand of pounds to complete.

The problem emerged after Oxfordshire County Council was asked to repair a crumbling footpath along a 60-metre stretch of road near the junction, between Waterloo Bridge and the petrol station.

Highways bosses then found the road had been damaged as well, with the rabbits potential culprits.

Since February temporary traffic lights have been in place, and Cholsey parish council chairman Mark Gray said: “I have never heard of rabbits destroying a road before – this must be a first.

“There are major delays during the rush hour, and this is affecting drivers from Cholsey and Wallingford.

“I have been told the work might not be completed until the autumn – people are fed up. The highways department at County Hall should be able to take on a few rabbits and win.

“Work needs to start now on the repairs because hundreds of people are being inconvenienced.”

In an email to Mr Gray, Keith Stenning, area steward for South Oxfordshire District Council, said a survey of the road took place on March 22 and the results have been received.

He added: “We are currently assessing these results but it appears likely that the rabbits have undermined the carriageway as well as the footway. We will need to assess whether the encroachment has undermined the strength of the carriageway and if this will need remedial work at the same time as the footway.”

County council spokesman Marcus Mabberley said it was not yet “conclusive” rabbits were responsible for damage to the highway but confirmed they damaged the embankment.

He said: “They have caused damage to the embankment, and there is approximately 60 metres of embankment collapse.

“A decision on how best to manage the situation regarding the rabbits will be taken in due course.

“It is difficult to quantify the number of rabbits involved.

“Temporary traffic lights are being operated automatically off-peak and manually during peak hours to minimise disruption. The length of time it will take to complete the work will become clearer in the near future.”

He added the council was unable to estimate how much repairs would cost.

RSPCA spokesman Diane Roberts said: “These are wild rabbits and the council should help them to migrate to a new environment.”