Police in Oldham have been blasted for "prioritising" a mission to track down the owners of a baby rabbit which has left residents astounded.

On Sunday night, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) launched a search for the owners of an unchipped black baby rabbit with white markings found in Oldham.

A Facebook post by GMP Oldham read: “A baby rabbit has been located in the Oldham area but may have been taken from Rochdale.

“The rabbit is black with white markings.

"The rabbit is not chipped so if any person should find their rabbit has gone missing then please contact 101 and quote log 1900-24072022 and describe where the rabbit's white markings are so we can confirm whether it is the same one.”

The post has been met with widespread fury with people calling the search "shameful and shocking".

One woman raged: “Since when was this a police matter?”, before taking a more sarcastic tone, adding: “Well done GMP you have your priorities in the right place”.

Another incensed woman wrote: “Shameful”, to which someone replied: “Wow what a world we live in.”

One astonished Facebook user simply commented: “Really???”, while another questioned “Is this a joke?” and a third added: “Shocking.”

The post has so far been shared over 30 times and garnered close to 50 reactions and more than 60 comments.

Police are yet to respond to the comments and the barrage of criticism within them.

The rabbit is not the first to go missing in the borough in recent weeks.

Earlier this month a grey rabbit was found on Scarr Lane in Shaw and a picture of the lost pet was shared on the Facebook page I LOVE Shaw Lost and Found.

The post has been shared more than 90 times. 

One woman has also claimed that a stray rabbit is currently in the bushes facing St Paul's Church on Ashton Road in Oldham.

Her comment on the GMP Facebook post reads: “There's a stray rabbit in the bushes facing St Paul's Church on Ashton Road, Oldham a woman took some cabbage and carrots and fed it. It comes out if you make a funny noise but it's scared."

Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for an update on the search for the baby rabbit's owner.