Billy the bunny had a lucky escape when Storm Eunice sent a tree crashing down on his Hitchin hutch.

A tree from Alan and Jen Jackson's neighbours' garden crashed through their fence during high winds on Friday last week - they were alerted by a loud noise just before the tree came down.

The Comet: Billy was in his hutch when the tree crushed it during Storm Eunice.Billy was in his hutch when the tree crushed it during Storm Eunice. (Image: Jen Jackson)

Their son Darren said: "My dad was in the kitchen and he heard a massive crack and the next thing you know the whole tree came down and crushed the hutch.

"He was shocked, he couldn't believe it. It was like something out of a movie - he put his crocs on and went running out to save his rabbit.

The Comet: Alan Jackson from Hitchin has kept rabbits since he was a child - and one of his current pets, Billy, had a lucky escape when his hutch was struck by a tree.Alan Jackson from Hitchin has kept rabbits since he was a child - and one of his current pets, Billy, had a lucky escape when his hutch was struck by a tree. (Image: Jen Jackson)

"The hutch was crushed, and Billy was hiding in the corner - he was lucky to be alive.

"If he had been where the tree would've landed he wouldn't have had a chance."

Storm Eunice and Storm Franklin have caused chaos in the UK over the past week.

A gust of 122mph was measured at an exposed point on the Isle of Wight - set a provisional record for England.

If confirmed, it will beat the previous record of a 118mph gust set in 1979 at Gwennap Head in Cornwall.

Darren, who is based in North London, said; "The main thing is that everyone is safe."

The Comet: Alan and Jen Jackson's garden fence.Alan and Jen Jackson's garden fence. (Image: Jen Jackson)

Alan, a former Letchworth factory worker and Jen, who currently volunteers at Keech Hospice charity shop in Hitchin, have lived in their home near Oughtonhead Common for 40 years and are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary in the summer.

Alan has kept pet rabbits since he was 10 years old - and currently has three.

The other rabbits were in separate hutches, and weren't hurt. Rabbits can die of fright, so the incident was all the more worrying for Alan and Jen.

The rabbit hutch and four panels in Alan and Jen's fence were destroyed in the storm - and the clean up operation is ongoing, but the family is so relieved Billy is safe.

The Comet: Alan and Jen Jackson garden after a tree fell on their rabbit hutch in HitchinAlan and Jen Jackson garden after a tree fell on their rabbit hutch in Hitchin (Image: Jen Jackson)

Darren said; "Dad had to move branches and cut his arm in the rush to get to the rabbit.

"Billy was a shaken by the experience and he was off his food for a few days but he is eating more now.

"Dad gave him calming blanket to settle his nerves and he seems OK now - hopefully he will be fine."