An online petition against a Rutland rabbit farm has attracted more than 80,000 supporters.

Rabbit Farm Resistance has attracted signatories from around the world opposing the application near Rutland Water.

The petition said: "The plan is to exploit 250 female rabbits to produce upwards of 10,000 rabbits per year for the meat and fur industry.

"We object to this for a great number of reasons ....but at the core we do not believe these sentient animals should be subjected to this cruel life and untimely death."

As Nub News previously reported, applicant Phil Kerry of Lyndon Top Farm, Manton, seeks to build a temporary farm workers dwelling and an agricultural building "to enable the establishment of a free-range rabbit breeding and rearing enterprise."

If approved, the 525m2 building and two-bed home would be built on a 0.75ha site currently used as farmland and is part of an existing vineyard south of Rutland Water.

The application said: "The proposal is for the redevelopment of part of an existing vineyard/ orchard into a new free range rabbit farm with runs and hutches to accommodate up to '250 does' along with security fencing, a temporary rural worker's dwelling and a larger agricultural building."

It continued: "A Rabbit breeding enterprise has also been established upon the site and has been operating for approximately 5 months."

"The enterprise as it is proposed cannot operate properly without a key worker being available at short notice and at most times. This can only be achieved if there is a dwelling available on the site. "

Rutland County Council has to date received more than 300 submissions against the proposal.

People have until Friday to submit their comments, which can be done here.