A DECORATED war veteran has got a “hop” in his step after his rabbit bounced his way to a prestigious national prize.

Jim Tate, 88, picked up the Premier Cup for best in show at the UK Dutch Rabbit Club Championships.

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His six-month old rabbit, Dante, is one of 24 living at his home in Greenhead Avenue, Little Harwood, and is the latest in a long line of premier breeds that Jim has looked after since taking up the hobby.

One Helmshore-based rabbit expert said she hoped Jim’s win would raise the profile of rabbit fancying.

A retired maintenance man, Jim first won the top prize in 1998, and has also tasted success in the Garstang Agricultural Show, the Royal Lancashire Show and the Great Harwood Show.

Dante, who has been with Jim since birth, was named the best in show on his first competitive outing, after winning the brown and white category, one of eight at the event in Bedford.

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Each victor from the separate categories was paraded in front of the judging panel with seven being eliminated one by one before Dante was crowned the winner.

Jim said: “I’m thrilled and over the moon to have picked up this title again.

“It’s an amazing feeling and it means that you are top of the tree in this field.

“I’ve only won it once and that was in 1998, so it has been a long time coming.”

Jim, who used to work at Mullard’s in Simonstone, joined the Royal Artillery in late 1944, and served overseas in France and the Middle East before being demobbed in 1946.

He picked up the Africa Medal and the Victory Medal during his time in the army before breeding his rabbits took off.

He said: “This prize is very big and it means a lot to many people.

“It’s a hobby that I enjoy a lot and I have been doing it now for about 60 years.

“I have loved it all the time and it has been great fun.

“I have no plans on stopping and I’m looking forward to going to other shows with Dante and my other rabbits.”

Anne Crompton, who breeds rabbits in Helmshore, said: “I would congratulate Jim on his achievement.

“It’s one of the oldest breeds and it’s a big deal when you are lucky enough to win.

“Rabbit fancying is dying out in Lancashire and it’s not as widespread as it once was which is a shame.

“It’s wins like this that help to raise its profile.”