A TRIMLEY rabbit breeder believes that her British Giant rabbit is bigger than the famous Hercules.As featured previously in the Evening Star Hercules, the huge 16lb bunny, provided much entertainment for customers at the Viscount Tackle shop, Ipswich, as it hopped around the floor.

A TRIMLEY rabbit breeder believes that her British Giant rabbit is bigger than the famous Hercules.

As featured previously in the Evening Star Hercules, the huge 16lb bunny, provided much entertainment for customers at the Viscount Tackle shop, Ipswich, as it hopped around the floor.

But Chris Fischer, owner of Trimley Rabbit Rescue, has come forward and claimed that her 17 and a half pound Dumpling Two is even bigger.

"She's very delicate, calm – very sweet-natured rabbit, she is one of our breeding does. She's a big rabbit," said Miss Fischer of the two-year-old British Giant.

Miss Fischer started breeding the British Giants two years ago and has named some of them Atlas, Goliath and Hercules.

"It's like having a dog or a cat around and the characters are so amazing. You can train to walk them on a lead. You can train them to use a litter tray so they will be clean in the house - you just have to know your rabbit and see if you can cope with teaching it - rabbits are very clever animals," she said.

"Because they're big, they're calmer, if you want to equate it to dogs, big breeds like Alsatians are cumbersome and laid back but with Jack Russells they're so hyperactive - that's the best way to describe them.

"They appeal to all sorts of people but they're not really good for five year old children - but having said that you get some five year olds that are very good with rabbits."

Miss Fischer's giant rabbits are more than double the size of a cat but she treats them the same as any other house pet. Her favourite rabbit was a doe called Dumpling, Dumpling Two's namesake. Sadly the 20lb rabbit died after it leapt from a radiator and broke its back. It had to be put down which deeply upset Miss Fischer.

"It devastated me it was my Christmas-come-birthday present and she was 18 months old when I had her put to sleep."

Miss Fischer also has other breeds such as the English Lop which have the biggest ears. Cedric, who is her house rabbit has 24 inch ears from tip to tip.

She breeds and rescues these rabbits as well as one of the smallest kind, a Netherlands Dwarf, which she rescued after a family could no longer cope with the 3lb animal.

A British Giant doe would cost around £45 whereas a buck would be slightly cheaper at £40 however if the rabbits were to be bred for shows they could fetch up to £70.