Animal rights campaigners are questioning what is happening at Rutland County Council concerning a proposed rabbit farm.

The group Rabbit Farm Resistance says there are rabbits already on the proposed site and they claim documented evidence of disease outbreaks.

They asked on social media: "What is taking them so long to refuse the plans for a cruel rabbit farm development, but also, why they have taken NO action about the fact this piece of land is already massively developed, without having gained planning permission to do so."

Earlier this year, Nub News reported that more than 80,000 have signed a petition against a proposed rabbit farm near Rutland water. The number of online signatories has since topped 130,000.

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."

The application, submitted last December, has still to come before the planning committee of Rutland County Council.

A council spokesman told Nub News today: "The planning application to construct a temporary rural worker's dwelling and separate agricultural building at Lyndon Top, near Hambleton, is still being reviewed by planning officers (REF: 2020/1439/FUL).

"Concerns have been raised by members of the public in response to activity taking place near this site. The activity is not taking place on the site of the application. However, it will be investigated by the Council's Enforcement Officers.

"If members of the public have any concerns regarding animal welfare, we strongly advise them to contact the RSPCA at: www.rspca.org.uk or by calling: 0300 1234 999."