April 1st already?

Is this the earliest April Fool ever by a local newspaper? The Halesowen News report that a Jessica Rabbit lookalike is looking for a man to carry her giant rabbit around the world - for a salary of £70,000 a year - looks too good to be true. But the revelation that the job will be awarded in 'an X-Factor style audition on Thursday April 1' suggests this may be a joke. If it is genuine it is a cracking tale (and job) if it is an April Fool joke it is fairly elaborate. And, published on March 10th, it has got to be a first.