A BRAVE rabbit beat off a rat which broke into its hutch and killed its guinea pig companion.

BRAVE BUNNY: Sarah Bell with her pet rabbit Pluto which fought for its life against a vicious rat

Pluto the rabbit was left bloodied but unbowed by his encounter with a vicious intruder at his North Yorkshire home.

His owner, 10-year-old Sarah Bell, was met by a sickening sight when she went one morning to check on Pluto and the guinea pig, Mars.

She went back and told her mother, Hilary Bell of Carlton Husthwaite near Thirsk, that Mars would not come out and Pluto had a lot of blood on his nose.

"When I went to look, the guinea pig was dead," said Mrs Bell.

"We eventually found the ventilation holes in the back of the hutch had been clawed out so you could get your hand through.

"The rat had clawed its way in and got the guinea pig, but the rabbit had managed to fight it off and survive."

The rat was eventually tracked down in the stable where the hutch was kept, and destroyed so it could no longer pose a threat to Pluto, who is now fully-recovered despite his harrowing experience.

"He is actually a very timid rabbit and he appeared to be in a state of shock afterwards, but he is fine now," added Mrs Bell.

Pluto's bravery has won him a place in the final of pet awards run by the Animal Health Trust, sponsored by Thirsk pet food company WAGG.

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