A WORCESTERSHIRE breeder has demanded answers after a giant rabbit died on a United Airlines flight.

Annette Edwards had sent the continental giant rabbit Simon to the United States to a celebrity buyer.

Ms Edwards, from Stoulton, has hit the headlines over the years for breeding four of the world's biggest rabbits as well as being the oldest page 3 model.

She said three-foot Simon, aged 10 months, was expected to grow to be the world's biggest rabbit after his father Darius grew to 4ft 4in (1.32m).

She told The Sun: "Something very strange has happened and I want to know what. I've sent rabbits all around the world and nothing like this has happened before.

"The client who bought Simon is very famous. He's upset."

Simon died while travelling on from Heathrow to O'Hare in Chicago on a United Airlines flight.

A United spokeswoman said: "We were saddened to hear this news. The safety and wellbeing of all the animals that travel with us is of the utmost importance to United Airlines and our PetSafe team.

"We have been in contact with our customer and have offered assistance. We are reviewing this matter."

It is another PR blow for the airline, coming three weeks after a video showing passenger David Dao

being dragged off a United Express flight sparked widespread outrage.

Dr Dao, a 69-year-old from Kentucky, was seen with a bloodied face after being forcibly taken off the plane by Chicago airport officers who had been summoned by United employees when he would not give up his seat.

United chief executive Oscar Munoz apologised for the situation calling it 'truly horrific'.

The most recent figures from the US Department of Transportation - dating from 2015 but released this February - show 35 animal deaths occurred during transit across 17 carriers in the States.

United accounted for 14 animal deaths in that period with a further nine reported injured among the nearly 100,000 animals carried by the company.

We previously reported how the Worcestershire mum-of-10 spent £10,000 on surgery, including breast and chin implants, to impersonate Jessica Rabbit from the 1988 movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit?