HORRIFIED RSPCA officials are caring for a mother rabbit and her young brood after they were abandoned and left to die.

The creatures were simply dumped (still in their hutch) by a roadside lay-by near Northallerton.

Now the RSPCA is appealing for anyone with any information about the animals to contact them so they can take the matter further.

The rabbits were found earlier this week after police received a call and went to the lay-by at Morton-on-Swale.

An officer recovered the hutch and took it to a vet in Northallerton.

At first it was thought the adult rabbit was the only occupant, but then her young were discovered nestling in the straw.

"This is really quite bizarre," said RSPCA inspector Geoff Edmond yesterday. "The young are still very dependent on their mother and they seem to have just been abandoned to their fate."

All the animals are now in the care of the RSPCA and anyone with any information about them is asked to ring 08705 555999.

l The North-East's appalling animal cruelty record prompted The Northern Echo to launch its Animal Watch campaign earlier this year. It aims to stop animals being mistreated by encouraging people to report any cases of cruelty to the police or RSPCA.