PAW prints believed to be a big cat's have been discovered just two miles from where CCTV footage of the mysterious beast was captured.

Last week the Standard exclusively published a picture of a big cat, which caused quite a stir with both local TV media and residents keen to find out more about the mysterious creature.

Now a Coates resident has reported discovering 20 prints in his garden, each one measuring around 4.5ins in length.

The 35-year-old, who works in Cirencester but did not wish to be named, stumbled across the paw prints earlier in July.

But, after reading last week's front page story, he decided to send the Standard the photographs he took of the feline evidence.

He said: "I think it tried to come in through the cat flap because our cat and dog were absolutely spooked.

"The following morning we noticed the footprints - there was loads of fresh soil around and you could see where he had come down from the woods.

"It's a genuine print, no doubt about it. But what it is a don't know - I was told to photograph it with something to compare its size.

"Some of the prints weren't as good but we photographed the best one we had."

Many sightings in and around Cirencester have been reported to the British Big Cats Society, which is based in Devon.

BBCS founder Danny Bamping keeps a record of the statistical data and published his findings for the last 15 months last week.

The data found Gloucestershire to be fifth in the list of 41 countries featured for big cat sightings, with a total of 104 reported.

However, Danny says he wasn't able to see the paw prints firsthand, so can't say for sure whether they were a big cat's or not.

He said: "The size is certainly about right, but the question is: were there any claw marks showing?

"If there were - it is likely to be dog as cats walk mainly with their claws retracted.

"The paw prints are too inconclusive to tell if they are genuine big cat prints, but they could be - you just can't tell from the photos."

Other sightings have been reported to the BBCS this week, but Danny says nothing of much significance in comparison to the CCTV footage published last week.