Photos have emerged of a 'leopard' spotted in a tiny Wiltshire village, writes Olive Loveridge-Greene.

The large spotted feline was seen hunched below a grass burrow in a park in Codford.

One local had been taking a lunchtime stroll last Thursday when he noticed the cheetah-like predator and decided to take a snap.

The large cat was said to have stayed "eerily still" before running off just seconds after the photo had been taken.

But other locals claim it's not a real leopard - but a toy or ornament.

The eyewitness said: "I was walking with my mate and its colouring caught the corner of my eye.

"At first I thought 'Is that a dog? Is that a large swan?'

"I stopped walking and turned over to look at it

"It was hunched over and I thought something wasn't right.

"Your obvious instinct is to run but then I thought why would it go for me when there's other people who have been walking around.

"It just kept its low profile and was crouched down so I decided to get my phone out.

"I went to get my phone out to take a video. I'm more of a cogs and whistle man and clearly am not tech savvy as I took a photo.

"I went to take another one and it had just ran off.

"It was just sitting there like some sort of apex predator looking like it was on the hunt.

"I have no idea what it had its eyes on. It's staring right into the camera when you look at the picture.

"The thing about Wiltshire it is so rural and I've read about spottings near railway lines.

"I sent it to my friend who put it in a forum and there were people saying it had been photoshopped.

"I can just about work my way around the internet. I wouldn't even know how to open and fiddle around with photoshop.

"It was just the most bizarre yet fascinating encounter I've had."