CCTV footage of a big cat prowling around Cirencester has come to light for the first time.

The Standard has exclusive images of a large feline creature taken from security cameras near the centre of the town.

Big cat sightings have been reported to our newspaper offices in Dyer Street on a regular basis over the summer months.

But this week is the first time we have been able to publish a picture of the large beast Cotswold residents claim to have seen.

The black cat is seen walking towards a zebra crossing before veering off into the bushes.

Each of the triangular sections of the crossing has a width of 4.5ft (1.35m) and the animal appears as long - if not longer - than one of those sections.

Staff at the premises said they knew they had captured images of a large animal and, having read about the number of sightings in the Cirencester area, contacted the British Big Cats Society.

BBCS founder Danny Bamping says he is 100 percent sure of its credibility.

He said: "The problem with visual evidence is basically the sense of scale, but the new bits of CCTV footage are very encouraging.

"It has a good sense of scale and the quality isn't bad at all.

"Over a dozen bits of video footage have been sent to us this year and several of them are obviously not big cats - but some could well be."

The BBCS has also published its research of big cat sightings across the UK this week and Gloucestershire and Wiltshire feature very high in the table.

During the last 15 months the BBCS has logged 104 sightings for Gloucestershire and 64 for Wiltshire, five and 16 respectively in the 41-strong list.

Danny said: "We were able to break down the data into several areas, and this produced some interesting facts and figures.

"Almost 60 percent of all the sightings reported were of black cats, and 32 percent were of brown or sandy coloured ones, which we believe to be pumas or cougars and mountains lions. Another six percent were lynx type cats.

"This year we have been able to study the information and evidence that has been put forward to us in greater detail and we have estimated that around a third (around 650) of all the sightings reported are probably not in fact big cats.

"Either people have been mistaken or their reports hold no detail and are too vague, and of course we get people reporting The Pink Panther, Garfield, Top Cat and Samba! Some people clearly have too much time on their paws."

The BBCS now intends to continue its research, focusing on gathering more scientific research. Its cause is simply to prove the existence of and protect big cats roaming the British countryside.

Danny is also hoping the Government and the police will begin to support it on a national basis. For more information visit www.britishbigcats.org