Fears for girl's 'allergic' bunny

The rabbit was given as a gift on Easter Sunday

A cash reward is being offered for the return of a stolen pet rabbit that is allergic to lettuce and carrots.

Schoolgirl Kerry Anderton, 10, fears Gizmo will become seriously ill if thieves feed it traditional bunny grub.

Gizmo vanished from its hutch in the garden of her family home in Rickleton, Washington, near Sunderland, on Sunday.

The brown and white rabbit's former owners warned the autistic youngster it would become sick if it was not kept on a special diet.

Mother Diane said her daughter was devastated by the theft and was having sleepless nights over the fate of the rabbit, which was given as a present on Easter Sunday.

She said: "I just can't explain how much she loved it.

"She is now off school over this and is waking up in the middle of the night.

Safe return

"The rabbit has a special diet and if it eats carrots and lettuce it is sick so it needs special rabbit food.

"We have explained to her that someone needed Gizmo more than she did and they did not have the money to buy one, but she keeps asking if the people who took it will know to give it special food."

The family has offered a £50 reward for the rabbit's safe return.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "The theft was reported to us in the early hours of Sunday and officers are appealing for anyone with information to contact them."