A litter of baby rabbits and their mother have gone missing from a nursery in Sandwich leaving the children devastated.

Amy McGowan, manager of the St Bart’s Out of School Centre in St Bart’s Road, has issued an appeal to help find the much-loved pets which it is believed have been stolen from their cage.

The four babies which are just five weeks old are too young to be separated from their mother and the fear is that they may be sold on separately.

Ms McGowan said: “The children are devastated. A lot of them are really upset. Boys from the junior school have created missing posters and lots of parents, staff and strangers have been sharing it on Facebook.”

The rabbits went missing between Saturday evening and Sunday evening when a member of staff went to check on the animals.

She explained that the cage door was found open but if this had been an accident, the rabbits would not have been able to get out because of the high fenced run-around area. With the rabbits being so small they would be unable to jump over it. This has led them to believe it must be theft.

The mum rabbit Nigella is a grey, white and ginger rabbit with distinctive markings making her easy to spot. Her babies are Carlos, Roger, Peter and Valerie.

Ms McGowan said: “I love the rabbits, It’s really sad but I’m more worried that someone has taken them to harm them. If they are given to a nice home that is easier to deal with but I’m worried someone is not doing to be kind to them. They are loved by all the staff and 60 children at St Bart’s.”

She explained that staff regularly check on the pets, especially as they are still so young and that the children have loved having them around and seeing them every day.

She said: “If anyone knows who has taken them, please just ask them to return them to where they were taken from safe and well.”

If anyone has any information contact St Bart’s on 01304 619800, or police on 101 quoting crime reference ZY/32035/15