Staff at an animal rehoming centre have had more to deal with than usual after some rabbits they took in kept multiplying.

RSPCA Medway West Branch in Walderslade Road, Chatham, had been caring for 20 bunnies from the same family – all named after London underground lines and stations.

It all began when somebody found two adults in a box with two newborns in London.

They took them home, had them checked over by a vet and decided to keep them.

But two more litters were born to dad Paddington and mum Jubilee, boosting the total to 12. The owner was overrun and asked the RSPCA for help.

The charity took in the family but three days later, Jubilee gave birth to another six little ones.

Putney, Cockfosters, Tooting, Charing, Camden and Kensal joined the rest of the brood: Baker, Victoria, Maryland, Bond, Brentwood, Kew, Brockley, Abbey, Brent, Warren, Finchley and Kensington.

The branch is now urging rabbit owners to neuter their pets to prevent the risk of unwanted litters.

Neutering also reduces risk of tumours in female rabbits and may reduce the incidence of behavioural issues.

Does – female rabbits – usually give birth overnight or in the early morning and are fertile again almost immediately. They are pregnant for about 31 days.

Branch and clinic manager Michele Carr said: “We had agreed to help with this array of rabbits but when they were transferred into our care, things were not quite as we had expected.

“The number of rabbits had grown and there were three groups of babies with another litter about to be born.

“The new babies were born just days later and so we had a grand total of 20 rabbits to accommodate.

“As the old adage goes, they had indeed bred like rabbits.

“Although the female adult, called Jubilee, possibly wasn’t the mum to all the babies, a female rabbit is quite capable of having litters every 28 to 32 days and this shows how easily two becomes 20 or more.”

The rabbits have all been vaccinated and will be neutered dependent on age.

If you could offer a rescued bunny a home, contact the branch on 01634 681187.

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway