A RECOVERING cancer victim fears he may be evicted from his home because benefit agencies say he is spending too much time with his rabbits.

Brian Moxham of Hod View, Stourpaine, said his incapacity, housing and council tax benefits had been stopped because he was spending 90 minutes too long a week with his pets.

Rules allow people to spend 16 hours a week with animals for therapeutic work - but Benefits Agency staff say the 17 hours 30 minutes he stays with his rabbits is too much.

Mr Moxham admits that although he has sold around ten rabbits as pets it is a hobby, but the Agency claims he is running a business.

He said "Someone sent the advert I put in a magazine to the social and it started investigating. I argued that it was never going to amount to a business and sent details of my expenses in pursuing a hobby which is never going to make a profit."

Furious Mr Moxham added: "I think there's a Human Rights issue here and I will be going to an independent tribunal to get it sorted out."

Mr Moxham started keeping rabbits as a hobby when he was living in Blandford.

"I started a breeding programme to give me something to do in my retirement," he said.

"When I moved to Stourpaine I took them to Bushes Farm and started renting premises there in March.

"I go up there each day to feed and clean them and spend an hour with them."

Mr Moxham said during the summer he had about 70 rabbits but these had now reduced to 18 does and nine bucks and he had sold around ten or twelve as pets.

A North Dorset District Council spokeswoman said: "If his housing benefit relies on entitlement from an outside agency which has been stopped, then it will automatically stop.

"If there is a shortfall with Signpost it is going to take appropriate action."

A spokeswoman for Signpost Housing said: "We have told Mr Moxham he is in danger of losing his home because of substantial rent arrears."