RABBITS in a popular nature reserve are under threat following an outbreak of myxomatosis.

The disease, which kills rabbits, is currently rife at Langdon Nature Reserve in Langdon Hills.

Keen walker Kay Succa-more, of Fraser Close, Laindon, told how she spotted an infected rabbit while out in the park on Monday.

She later had her fears confirmed by a warden who found another dead rabbit near the reserve’s lake. Mrs Succamore said: “I saw this rabbit just sitting there.

“I started to walk towards it and thought it would run off, but it didn’t move.

“I was inches away, but it just sat there, I found it odd that its eyes were closed.”

Mrs Succamore rang the nature reserve’s visitors centre when she got home and was told there had been an outbreak.

She said: “I thought they’d got rid of that disease years ago. The rabbits die a terrible death.”

The disease is spread by mosquitoes which thrive in warm and wet weather – an increasing aspect of British summers over the past few years. It is more common at this time of year because of a higher numbers of rabbits.

Among the symptoms are lumps around the head and genitals which can lead to acute conjunctivitis and possibly blindness.

Infected rabbits will become listless, lose appetite and develop a fever.

Death takes around 13 days.

Jonathan Whisbey, a warden at the reserve, said some rabbits had been affected by the disease, but did not know how many. He said: “It happens every year around September time. It is a naturally occurring disease in rabbits which is found in the grass.

“It’s more noticeable towards the end of the summer, but it seems to disappear as the weather cools down.”

Michele Kench, media officer at Essex Wildlife Trust, which runs the reserve and Hanningfield Reservoir Visitor Centre, in Billericay, said there were no reports of myxomatosis at other reserves.

She said: “It’s not a pleasant way for rabbits to die, but there is no need for people to be fearful of it.

“It only affects rabbits and not any other animals or people.”

In the 1950s the disease wiped out around 95 per cent of the UK’s rabbit population.

Domestic rabbits are at risk from myxomatosis and owners are advised to have their pets vaccinated against the disease.