A PANTYFFYNNON man has got an extra hop in his step after his rabbit scooped three top prizes at the Royal Three Counties Show.

Tony Taylor breeds the bushy-tailed bunnies from his Pantyffynnon Road home and is the proud owner of more than 50 of the carrot-munching creatures.

The 75-year-old’s prize-winning English Rabbit was crowned first in class, best fancy and best in show at the prestigious Malvern event.

“I have been showing rabbits for a number of years, and I have a nice selection of prizes, but I was over the moon to again receive recognition for my beautiful English Rabbit,” said Tony.

Tony has been keeping rabbits for 18 years — ever since he moved to Carmarthenshire from Oxfordshire.

“We had to have something to do when my wife and I retired to Pantyffynnon,” said the former farm worker.

“We both enjoyed keeping rabbits and started with a handful of them, now I have more than 50.

“I never intended showing, but I went to the Royal Welsh one year and we won. It just snowballed from then.”

Tony, now a widower, said the rabbits keep him busy and he loves spending time with them in his garden.

“They give me a lot of joy. I have many friends who bring their children around to visit, who can spend hours in the garden with them.

“I travel all over the UK delivering rabbits to new homes, so they keep me busy.

“I also have over 20 hens and roosters which I hope to take to shows in the future, but I’m happy just to stick with the rabbits for now.”