A GIANT bunny on a bike gave paramedics at Teesside International Airport a laugh yesterday.

Six-foot tall Harry was launching the Great North Air Ambulance's summer fundraising campaign.

But his presence was also something of an April's Fool joke for the ambulance crew who asked their bosses for a rapid response unit to use when the air ambulance is grounded.

"We are going to get a vehicle for them in a few weeks but we thought it would be funny to pretend we had misconstrued what they had said and provide them with a 'rabbit response unit'," said fundraising manager John Everson. "We knew it would give them a laugh to see Harry on a scooter."

The air ambulance is looking for teams of ten or 12 people to take part in It's a Knockout challenges across the North-East this summer.

"It is going to be great fun and we'd like to raise £250,000 over the summer," said Mr Everson. To enter a team call (01325) 487263