Rabbit find like a Benny Hill sketch, says mechanic

A mechanic described the moment a rabbit was found in the bottom tray of a car as like "a Benny Hill sketch".

Ben Riddell, the director of Hanningfield Motor Company, East Hanningfield, Essex, said when a Volkswagen Golf arrived from Burnham-on-Crouch for a service they removed the bottom tray and found the animal.

While mice were a common find, he said, rabbits were "extremely rare" and he was initially concerned the stowaway was someone's pet.

"It then sort of ended a bit like a Benny Hill sketch, we chased it around the workshop, it went behind some cabinets and then we eventually managed to get it out and I'd like to think it's living a happy life in a field somewhere now," he said.

When starting work on the car on 26 May, the mechanics noticed that the vehicle's tray felt "heavier than usual" and when they removed it they found the rabbit staring back at them.

Riddell said: "I can't for the life of me understand why it would go in there.

"The technician that was doing [the work] made quite a noise. I think he was concerned it was a squirrel or something at first.

"Mice is fairly regular because we're a sort of countryside area, they tend to jump in, we've found nuts stored in air filter boxes fairly regularly."

The 51-year-old director said he grew up on farms and realised the rabbit was "definitely a wild one" when he saw its colour.

The rabbit would have travelled 14 miles between Burnham-on-Crouch and East Hanningfield.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: "It must have been quite a surprise for the mechanics to find a rabbit in the engine, but we are glad the bunny was rescued.

"Finding animals hiding in vehicle engines is not unusual, and our RSPCA officers have rescued all kinds of our furry and feathery friends including foxes, pheasants, and cats.

"We urge motorists to take simple steps to ensure no animals are seeking shelter under their vehicles before driving away. A quick look underneath and a tap on the bonnet can help.

"Please wait to give any animals time to crawl out before starting the engine. While animals can often escape on their own, some may be startled or may have snuggled into tight spaces, becoming trapped under the bonnet."

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