VISITORS expecting rabbits at the Dorset County Show over the weekend may have been left a little disappointed.

Guinea pigs and small birds filled the cages in a marquee on the showground clearly labelled rabbits, with not a long ear in sight.

This is because a case of a deadly disease currently decimating wild rabbit populations was recorded less than 50 miles away.

The Dorchester and District Rabbit Fanciers, who run the marquee every year, decided the risk was too great and this year, rabbits would be kept from the show.

Secretary of the society, Pauline Griffiths, said: “There’s no law to say we shouldn’t bring rabbits to the show.

“We decided that seeing as this is an agricultural show, and dogs and humans can carry the disease, it was best not to go ahead.

“This decision was made about four weeks ago and we just organised a few birds and guinea pigs in their place.

“The rabbits have got to come first.”

The disease, called rabbit haemorrhagic disease two (RHD2), was first detected in France six years ago but has now spread to Britain.

It causes rapid death with many breeders finding their hutches wiped out almost overnight.