FORTY-EIGHT rabbits were killed in just two nights during the latest bunny blitz in Melrose, community councillors were told this month.

Melrose in Bloom, which helped the town win Gold in the Britain in Bloom awards, claimed the cull was necessary as rabbits had been spotted eating the town’s prized flower beds.

Melrose and District Community Council was told shooting rabbits in winter was cheaper than gassing them in daytime.

Local businesses have donated hundreds of pounds towards the cost of the “environmental protection” project, despite animal activists threatening to boycott local stores following a campaign on social networking site Facebook.

Val Millar, Vice-Chair of Melrose Community Council, said: “We have had some very positive results and we are hoping for more in the summer.”