Ipswich: Rabbit found inside Ford at Avanti Autos garage

Earlier this month, a customer brought his Ford S-Max to the Avanti Autos' garage due to an unfamiliar warning light appearing.

At the garage, the car was diagnosed with a steering torque position sensor.

But on closer inspection, mechanic Matthew Rolfe found damaged wiring under the bonnet.

After leaning in for a better look, he saw a pair of bright eyes looking back at him.

Mr Rolfe said he was shocked to discover the bright eyes belonged to a rabbit hiding away in the car.

He said: "I have to say, it was a bit of a shock to see a pair of eyes peeping out from behind the engine. 

"I grabbed a pair of sturdy gloves and managed to pull the full size, adult rabbit from inside the engine.

"We hear occasionally of animals turning up inside cars, but this is a first for us.

"The rabbit – naturally we named him Peter – thankfully let me pick him up and we tucked him into a warm box before transporting him back to his natural habitat near Washbrook.”

The rabbit was safely removed from the car and taken to Washbrook (Image: Matthew Rolfe)

The customer said: "I couldn’t believe it. The light came on when I was driving through Holbrook.

"It wasn’t a warning light I’d seen before so I knew I had to take it straight into my garage in Ipswich.

"The rabbit looked huge when he pulled him out.

"How he managed to cling on all that distance is beyond me.

"It’s quite a remarkable adventure, one worthy of a Beatrix Potter story. Next time a light comes on, I’ll double check for Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail.”

Avanti Autos said, while very unusual, this type of incident is becoming "more common".

A spokesman for the business said: "The wiring insulation on vehicle wiring looms were always petroleum based but nowadays, wiring insulation is soy based on some vehicles.

"This has the advantage of being more environmentally friendly but, due to its natural make up, it can attract animals to the smell and taste of the insulation.

"We have researched and there are product sprays available to deter rodent and vermin from chewing the wiring harnesses."