A COUNTESS who owns a Yarmouth hotel is to finally stand trial in January over an allegation she allowed a rabbit to roam loose in the building's kitchen.

A COUNTESS who owns a Yarmouth hotel is to finally stand trial in January over an allegation she allowed a rabbit to roam loose in the building's kitchen.

The countess Athanasia Constantine has pleaded not guilty to failing to prevent a domestic pet, namely a rabbit, to be loose in the kitchens of the Fairholme hotel in Princes Road on January 9, 2007.

The 39-year-old, who lives in Mill Hill, London, is also alleged to have breached 16 other food and hygiene regulations, including claims that staff smoked in the kitchens and they were not properly trained. Her trial had been set for April but was adjourned twice as she was unwell.

Yesterday, it was confirmed that she will now appear at Yarmouth Magistrates' Court on January 6.