Hopping into the record books, Humphrey the two-stone rabbit is king of the big bucks

By MIKE LARKIN

Last updated at 15:32 15 February 2008

Meet record-breaking rabbit Humphrey - a buck so large he has smashed the official mark for the world's biggest bunny.

The French lop-eared rabbit is 42in long and tips the scales at a mammoth two stone.

That's 3lb heavier than previous world record holder Dancing Star, a rabbit of the aptly named British Giant breed who weighs in at 25lb.

The French Lop's average weight is a comparatively tiny 10lb.

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Humphrey the giant rabbit

Thumping great: Humphrey with owner Colin Dunigan, who says, 'I just don't know how big he is going to get'

And the 18-month-old, who is not yet fully matured, is still growing, fuelled by a diet of hay, carrots, asparagus - and his favourite, digestive biscuits.

Owner Colin Dunigan, from Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, said: "When I first got him I could hold him in the palms of both my hands.

"Every day he just kept getting bigger and bigger. I thought he would stop, but he hasn't so far."

In a single day he will eat three whole carrots, half a broccoli, a couple of asparagus tips, some wholemeal bread and a handful of biscuits.

Father-of-two Mr Dunigan, 62, said: "He loves his food. He would eat me out of house and home if he could. I have to be careful not to overfeed him, because he lives to eat."

And quantity is not enough. Humphrey also demands quality.

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Humphrey the giant rabbit

Current bunny: Record-holder Humphrey is 42in long and still growing

Mr Dunigan said: "I bought him some own-brand digestive biscuits because they were a bit cheaper, but he turned his nose up."

Humphrey has the run of his owner's four-bedroom detached house after outgrowing his 6ft cage, and now enjoys lying next to the fire - and watching television.

Mr Dunigan revealed he is a particular fan of Albert Square.

He said: "It doesn't matter where he is in the house, when he hears the theme of EastEnders he runs to get to the television.

"And if I try to leave the house without leaving the telly or the radio on he will stop me before I go."

The largest breed of domestic rabbit is the Flemish giant, which weighs up to 17lb 10oz and stretches up to 3ft toe-to-toe.

The current unofficial world record holder for the largest rabbit is Amy, a Continental Giant from Worcester. She weighs in at two-and-a-half stone and is 4ft long.

But Mr Dunigan would not be surprised if Humphrey caught up on her too. He said: "He has a way to go, but I just don't know how big he is going to get."