Thank you all for your further replies.

You're all more than welcome to pop over for some target practice, although now the weather has turned a little there don't seem to be as many rabbits about. I've seen 3 in the garden at one time, there might be more.

My other half is an excellent cook, am sure she can rustle up something.

Shooting doesn't seem a practical approach, at least not by me. My plan once trapped was to either drop the cage in the pond, or gas them with the car exhaust (see, not so off topic after all) which apparently is quite humane. An air pistol up close is a thought, presumably doesn't need to be anything much, as long as it shoots.

I've got on top of the moles, rabbits are the next project. Unfortunately no chance of a cat (neither of us like them), and she doesn't care for dogs, which is a pity as I'd like one, and certainly isn't going to allow a shotgun around the place. I pushed to get agreement for an air weapon.

Just to add even if your sub 12ft lb rifle is with you and you use a heavy pellet or over lube the pellets that causes the gun to go over the 12ft lb that then is in fac area you could end up in a bit of bother,ther is a lot of people obsessed with being too close to the legal limit the only way to check is by using a chronograph.

If only I lived closer