My Funny

At 4ft 3in from nose to tail, Darius the Continental Giant has been crowned the world's biggest rabbit. And he's still growing.

Darius, pictured with six-year-old Georgia Hadley, is only just over 12 months old and breeder Annette Edwards expects him to keep adding to his 3st 7lb bulk for at least another six months.

That's good news for her greengrocer in Worcester because he already eats 12 carrots, six apples and two cabbages a day.

Thanks to his huge appetite, he has stolen the title from Alice, who also weighs 3st 7lb but at 3ft 3in is a foot shorter than her offspring.

And Darius may grow bigger still. Former pet shop owner Annette Edwards, who bred both rabbits, said she expects him to keep developing for at least six months before reaching his full size.

She said: 'He is very gentle and I wonder if this has helped him grow bigger than the rest. But he also runs around, so the combination of food and exercise has worked out for him.

'He really is a handsome beast and there's always a glint in his eye when you go near him.

'The frightening thing is that Darius is still growing so he could be absolutely massive by the time he reaches full size.'

She added: 'I only measured him this weekend and that was when I realised he was much bigger than Alice, who is the current record holder.

'People ask me what my secret is, but there really isn't one other than treating them very well.'

Miss Edwards, 59, has bred four of the world's biggest rabbits, all Continental Giants, at her home in Worcester.

The first was 3st 7lb, 3ft 6in Roberto, who took the Guiness World Records crown in 2004 after dwarfing a German contender called Herman.

His 3st mate Amy, who had to swap her hutch for a dog kennel because she measured 4ft, overtook Roberto in 2008 but died of a heart attack last year after travelling to Italy for a TV show.

Two-year-old Alice, one of Amy and Roberto's 32 offspring, claimed the title in September.

Miss Edwards is now awaiting confirmation of Darius's record.

Guinness World Records have stopped accepting entries for the world's heaviest pets because of fears people were over-feeding them. Instead Darius will be judged on his length.

A spokesman said last night: 'This is the biggest bunny in the world - Darius is bigger than all the previous record-holding rabbits. It's unbelievable that a rabbit could grow to over 4ft long.'

Miss Edwards added: 'It's nice that the record is being kept in the family. His grandma Amy died last year and that was upsetting, but I think she would like to know her grandson had taken the record.'

Miss Edwards made headlines last year after her obsession with her pets prompted her to turn herself into a real-life Jessica Rabbit.

The great grandmother spent £10,000 on plastic surgery, including breast and chin implants, a brow lift and botox injections to impersonate the 1988 Who Killed Roger Rabbit film character while she does TV shows with her pets.

Last month she offered a £70,000 salary for a helper to carry Alice - who will now be replaced by Darius - during photo shoots because her risqué outfit, teetering heels and inflated chest mean she struggles to handle the animals when in character.

Label: guiness world of record rabbit, world biggest bunny