White rabbits found hopping around a wood have posed a mystery for RSPCA chief inspector Douglas Davidson.

Douglas Davidson

He can only offer two theories as to why the rabbits were in the wood at Cottisford, near Bicester.

Mr Davidson said: "I had two calls from people who walk their dogs in the area to tell me they had seen about two dozen white rabbits in the wood.

"I went out and caught six and found another five dead. I can only think that someone has realised they have bred too many rabbits or that an animal welfare group has released the rabbits from a laboratory.

"Either way, it's an offence to dump animals like this."

Mr Davidson took the dead rabbits to a vet for investigations to be carried out into the cause of their deaths.

He kept the others at his home near Didcot before taking them to the RSPCA's animal sanctuary at Blackberry Farm, in Quainton, near Bicester.