TWO rabbits that were dumped in a Hale park have been given a new lease of life by a local family.

A dog owner found the white rabbits in a bag in Halecroft Park, and took them back to her home on Hale Road.

The family, who live on Tintern Drive, then came to the rescue and took them in after reading a ‘found’ notice displayed in the park appealing for a home for them.

Carla, who found the rabbits on Good Friday, was unable to keep the animals as she already has a dog. She temporarily hired a hutch from Wyevale Garden Centre (World of pets) to keep the rabbits in during their stay with her.

The rabbit’s new owner, Sarah Ludlam, said she couldn’t understand how anyone could abandon them in a bin bag.

She said: “Me and my husband saw the sign saying ‘rabbits found abandoned’ on Saturday evening when we were walking through the park. We thought about it over the weekend and wondered why someone had abandoned a pair of innocent rabbits. “We saw that it was still there on Easter Monday and decided to find out if they had been given a home yet.”

Children, Dan, six, and Sadie, three, have named the rabbits Miffy and Mickey.

Sarah said: “Our children fell in love as soon as they saw them, which was the decisive point! Anyone that can no longer keep their pets should take them to their local rescue centre where lots of people would be willing to love unwanted pets.”

She added: “Carla and I would like to thank the manager and staff of Wyevale Garden Centre for the kind loan of a cage to temporarily house the rabbits and for their help and advice.”