An Oxford animal rescue organisation has been surprised by the number of unwanted rabbits it has taken in over Christmas.

West Oxford Animal Rescue, in Botley, is more used to dealing with abandoned dogs.

Janet Butler, who runs the centre, in Botley, said: "We have had a lot of rabbits in this year which is unusual.

"One of the busiest periods for us now is before Christmas. This is because a lot more people are going away for the holidays and abandon their pets. We have also had a number of calls about cats that no-one seems to want."

Ms Butler said six rabbits had come into the centre during Christmas but she expects the number of abandoned animals to rise in the next week.

She said: "The New Year always brings more animals into the centre as people realise they cannot or do not want to look after their new pets."

A spokesman for the Blue Cross animal rescue centre in Burford said a rabbit was discovered in a plastic carrier in the centre's car park on Sunday, December 23.

He said: "The rabbit was dumped in the car park on a particularly cold night and we were lucky to spot it.

"We also had a number of people bring pets to us before Christmas. They threatened to put them down if we did not take them in."

The Blue Cross is now planning an awareness campaign, targeting concerns about the way rising numbers of rabbit owners are caring for their pets.

Maggie Whalley, warden at the Oxford Animal Sanctuary Society in Stadhampton, said the sanctuary had not had an influx of Christmas animals but four dogs, who are all unwanted, were due in soon.

Two cats were abandoned outside the Banbury Animal Rescue and Kindness Service in Lansdown Close, Banbury, before Christmas even began, said a spokesman.

Service chairman Barry Clift said kittens were not readily available at this time of year, unlike dogs, and were usually handed in when owners could not afford to have them spayed or neutered.