A FORMER British, European and World arm-wrestling champion is facing his toughest opponent yet - a two pound albino rabbit.

And Neil Pickup is desperate for its owners to claim it as he fears his new long-eared friend could cost him glory at next month's World Championships in Tokyo.

The pure white rabbit with bright red eyes was first spotted by Neil outside his gym in Oakmere Close, Darwen.

When it was still there three days later, shivering from the winter wind and rain, the strongman took pity on it and let it shelter in the top floor of the gym - where Neil and fellow arm-wrestlers train.

Or where they used to train.

Because now when they enter the room the little rabbit is so terrified they've had to set up a makeshift training area downstairs.

Neil explained: "He was outside my gym every night for three nights on the spin in the worst weather possible but he wouldn't let me get anywhere near him.

"Every time I went to train he was there.

"He's the keenest member I've ever had. I thought he had either joined the British Arm-wrestling Federation or he was lost.

"Eventually I got hold of him and I put him in the training room.

"He's basically taken it over. He's killing my chances of winning the world championships.

"He's as cute as a button but he gets so worried when anyone goes in we've had to move all the equipment downstairs.

"Nobody dares take him on"

Training is hard enough for Neil. He is battling back to full fitness after an operation in August to replace three ligaments in the right elbow of the arm that has won him so much success over the years.

After switching to his left arm and moving up from middleweight to light-heavyweight he finished second in the World Championships in South Africa last year.

And he was hoping to go one better at this year's event in Japan.

But that was before he befriended the bunny.

He said: "I'm on a strict diet of salad and carrots but this rabbit's eating more than me."