OUR rabbits deserve better than to be chased out by ferrets.

That’s the message from residents near Canford Bottom roundabout, earmarked for a £5.9million re-build that would see the A31 cut through the bunnies’ home.

On Monday, January 10, Councillor Janet Dover, who represents Colehill East, will hand over a 52-signature petition to East Dorset District Council asking that the rabbits are found a new home rather than being forced from their warrens and killed.

Another petition with 56 signatures has already been posted to the Highways Agency, which wants to complete the work to ease congestion ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

Cllr Dover said: “Children and families love the rabbits.

“Although the district council aren’t responsible for the work, it’s in their area and I’m asking for them to urgently forward it to the Highways Agency with a message that the residents want them to actively seek alternatives to this plan to kill them.

“Relocation is the humane option and the right thing to do.”

Campaigners say there’s been one colony on the roundabout and another on the verge for more than 20 years.

“We think they took up residence almost as soon as the road was re-developed,” Cllr Dover added.

“It’s a relatively safe environment for them, fairly safe from predators.

“Not many foxes would travel across that traffic. The rabbits enjoy a quiet life there and it’s nice to see the babies in the spring.

“Rabbits are happy little things and it makes you feel cheerful to watch them nibble away at the grass.”

A Highways Agency spokesman said: “If the scheme goes ahead, to prevent rabbits being killed by construction machinery, prior to any work we would trap and humanely kill them.

“However we are looking at the possibility of relocating them, provided that we can find a site where they would not present a nuisance.”