Rabies fears as three exotic opposums go missing after being smuggled into the UK from South America

A RABIES alert has been issued after South American opossums that were illegally imported into the UK escaped.

Three of the animals are believed to be on the loose after an animal health team raided a property in Lostwithiel, Cornwall.

The animals had no official documents, no rabies vaccinations and may even have been captured in the wild, reports the .

Officials who carried out a previous raid on a Midlands pet shop found some of the animals, which had been smuggled into the UK and sold on the internet.

Three of the mammals were believed to have been sent to Lostwithiel.

Jane Tomlinson, Cornwall Trading Standards manager, said: "Smuggled or illegally imported mammals have a very high risk of being infected with rabies. This is often a fatal disease in humans and is always fatal to animals.

"I urge everyone not to buy animals over the internet, and ensure you see the parents of any young animals before purchase."

Cornwall Council has investigated five cases of illegally imported animals in the past year.

Officials say several have been bought over the internet.

Opossums are marsupials native to the Americas and are usually cat-sized.

They have unusually powerful immune systems and have immunity to the venom of rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and other dangerous snakes.

In October it was reported a giant rodent is living wild in the British countryside after it escaped from its enclosure – to find a MATE.

The 18-month-old love struck capybara was last spotted near a stream, a staggering 13 miles away from owner Vernon Moore’s home.