A sinister pile of more than 50 newly-killed rabbits has horrified animal-lovers.

Volunteers dedicated to re-homing unwanted animals said the animals were needlessly shot with an air rifle or bludgeoned to death.

Animal rescuer Trevor Weeks believed the bodies were left at the side of the A26 late on Tuesday night.

A passer-by was sickened by the sight when she spotted them on Wednesday morning, about a mile from Newhaven.

The bloody corpses outraged Mr Weeks, of the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service. He said: "I counted 47 rabbits just on the top layer so there would have been more.

"The pile was about three or four metres across."

Mr Weeks took two of the rabbits to a vet to find out how they had been killed.

He said: "The veterinary checks showed they were shot with air rifles. I believe some were also hit over the head afterwards if they didn't die straight away, as there was blood in their ears and around their heads."

Mr Weeks said killing rabbits was not illegal but he felt there could be laws stopping people from dumping them.

He said he was going to tell Lewes District Council because it was a health and safety issue.

The woman walking her dog when she spotted the rabbits said: "It was very distressing. I've seen people driving Land Rovers and shooting rabbits in the fields around there.

"It looked so sinister. I got the feeling someone was trying to prove something.

"I don't know what's going on, whether someone's trying to make a point or if it's just plain cruelty."

Debbie Campain, 30, runs Cat Rescue at Telscombe Cliffs, near Newhaven, but her voluntary re-homing service also caters for rabbits.

She insisted there was no need to cull them.

She said: "It's disgraceful. No rescue centre would have turned away anyone who turned up with that many rabbits.

"We do deal with large numbers of rabbits.

"If we cannot accommodate them, we would find other rescue centres that could until we were ready for them.

"Anybody who does rescue work hears a lot about neglect and cruelty. People are normally very good but a few let everyone down. This is the first instance of a mass killing I have heard off."

Ms Campain agreed those responsible might have been breeders who had too many rabbits to care for.

She said: "It's difficult to say who killed them. Breeders tend to breed them to sell and it can be quite profitable. But rabbits are not thought of in the same way as other pets.

"People sell young rabbits but the older ones do not get the same respect that people have for cats and dogs.

"It's just a culture thing. This ignorance leads to people thinking it is perfectly acceptable to leave them in a hutch for 24 hours a day. They need their exercise, neutering is still not widespread and they need regular handling.

"Rabbits make wonderful pets because they are incredibly affectionate, intelligent animals. People just do not realise."

A Lewes District Council spokesman said: "The rabbits were cleared and disposed of as soon as the council was informed. They did not cause any health hazard but could have if they were left there for a long time."

Unwanted cats and rabbits can be given to Cat Rescue by calling 01273 580464.