A pet shop manager says a surge in the number of animals dumped on their doorstep is down to people worried their pets could give them coronavirus.

Over the last week, seven rabbits have been left at Viper and Vine, based on Bury New Road, Prestwich , along with a snake and two geckos.

The most recent addition was a tiny bunny - thought to be just weeks old - which was left at the front door during mid-morning while the shop was open.

The fluffy outcast was only discovered when staff went outside to move what they thought was a large box covered by a bin bag, only to find a seemingly healthy animal hiding in a cage beneath.

Nic Shaw, manager at Viper and Vine, says it is not unusual for pets to be dumped in this way but she thinks the rise in abandoned animals is down to panic over the coronavirus outbreak.

She said: "It seems to have got worse since the coronavirus, I think people seem to think they will catch it off the animals."

(Image: Viper and Vine pet shop Facebook page)

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health there is very little chance of transmission of the virus between humans and their pets.

Ms Shaw says she does not have a problem helping people who are struggling to look after their pets but is frustrated by the number of owners who leave their animals with no explanation.

"Some people have the decency to come in and tell us they can't look after them - and that's fine," she said.

"If they want us to take them that's fine but what annoys me is when people just dump them."

(Image: Viper and Vine pet shop Facebook page)

She added: "We've got the room and we will look after them, if needs be I will take them home with me.

"But, we just get so many people that will just dump them like they are rubbish but they're not they're living animals.

"It's a regular occurrence that's the scary thing about it and often they are in covered boxes so we might not even know what's inside when we open it."

The rabbit dumped at Viper and Vine this morning is yet to be named but Ms Shaw says it seems healthy and well-looked after.