An animal shelter has launched an appeal to fund surgery for a rabbit found dumped in a bush with two broken legs.

The male rabbit, was found covered in urine burns and faeces, in Worcester Road, Sutton, on Friday, July 29.

The Riverside Animal Centre in Beddington Park, who are now looking after the rabbit, which it has named Flipper, described his injuries as some of the worst if had ever seen.

Now the shelter is hoping to raise more than £400 to fund corrective surgery, as well as find Flipper a new home.

Ted Burden, who runs the animal centre, said: "Flipper's injuries really are quite shocking.

"His front legs are splayed out at right-angles, probably from old fractures where its legs had been broken but nothing was done to help them heal properly, or it was kept in such crampt conditions it could not grow properly."

He said the one-and-a-half year old was still in considerable pain and the surgery was needed urgently, but the shelter did not have the funds to pay for it.

It is asking for members to make donations.

Flipper is currently being cared for by pet unit supervisor, Jackie Beer, as cannot be left in standard hospital cage.

Mr Burden added: "Unfortunately, many people purchase rabbits thinking that they will make an ideal children's pet.

"Sadly, when the owners discover that this isn't the case, they simply abandon their pets in local parks and open spaces, where they are at serious risk from traffic, predators and starvation.

"Actions such as this are against the law and Riverside will assist in bringing prosecutions against anyone found abandoning their animals."

Anyone who can make a donation, or who has information about who dumped the rabbit, should contact Riverside Animal Centre on 0208 669 8877.

The centre is holding a pet relocation day btween 12pm and 3am on Sunday, August 21, for people interested in taking on an abandoned animal.

The centre currently has unprecented numbers of animals, including about 20 cats, eight dogs and fifteen rabbits.