THE breeder of Simon the giant rabbit has slammed United Airlines after they cremated him without her consent.

Annette Edwards, 65, had called for a post-mortem but later learned the ten-month-old's body had been burned on Friday.

The 3ft bunny froze to death last month after bungling ground staff at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport put him in a chiller by accident.

He had been flown there from Heathrow and was destined for a celebrity owner in Ohio.

Former Playboy model Annette, of Stoulton, Worcs, said: "The whole thing stinks of a cover-up.