Two baby rabbits had a miraculous escape after they survived being shot out of a lorry’s exhaust pipe.

The pair were spotted when a car transporter in Queenborough was started up after a prolonged period without being driven.

They are now in the care of Swale Wildlife Rescue, run by Ingrid Cole, in Kemsley.

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"The bloke hadn’t used the lorry for about a week and it wasn’t firing properly so he gave it a bit of oomph and two tiny rabbits shot out of the exhaust," she said.

"None of us can get our head around how that happened. OK, the exhaust of a lorry is bigger. There was nest material in there so an adult rabbit had gone in and given birth in there.

Video: The rabbits were shot out of a lorry's exhaust pipe

"He said they were tiny little things and he thought they were rabbits but they were like little black balls.

"He turned the heating up in the cab to keep them warm and my husband drove over after work to pick them up."

Now nicknamed Smokey and The Bandit, Ingrid says they were just a few days old and has been nursing them back to health, feeding them up on kitten milk to help them put on weight.

"They were the size of a thumb and are renowned for dying if they’re very young but they have their eyes open now and are hopping around," she added.

"The bloke hadn’t used the lorry for about a week and it wasn’t firing properly so he gave it a bit of oomph and two tiny rabbits shot out of the exhaust" - Ingrid Cole

"They usually come in from cats’ mouths. We had one found in the middle of a horse paddock once, but never out of an exhaust."

Meanwhile, Ingrid is also caring for a pair of baby tawny owls which had not long hatched when they were found on the ground in the Lynsted area.

"People brought them to us after having them a couple of days and not knowing what to do with them.

"They were just little white fluff balls. They’re definitely siblings and wouldn’t have survived if left where they were, without a doubt. Any predator around would have munched them."

She added: "Owls are my first love and it’s an honour to have them. I could watch them all day if I had the time.

"These two are like Laurel and Hardy, they’re so comical."

Both the rabbits and the owls arrived at Ingrid’s animal hospital at about the same time and were put in her two incubators.

She aims to return them to the wild once they are able to fend for themselves.

Ingrid has been rescuing wildlife for about five years and said she would like to hear from any individuals or businesses interested in sponsorship.

"I’m in desperate need of cages and could really do with totally refurbishing the garage hospital,” she said. “So if anyone can help, I’d be delighted to hear from them."

Anyone who can help should call Ingrid on 07877 280348 or visit Swale Wildlife Rescue's website.