FOOTAGE captured by a bewildered Basingstoke resident shows a mystery beast stalking across fields near to town.

The video zooms in on a mysterious brown and black coloured animal that resembles a big cat.

The dog walker spotted the animal yesterday, whilst out walking his dog at Sherborne St. John.

The dog walker’s daughter told the Gazette: “I swear this is a Lynx. I go on that walk a lot, though won’t be going again anytime soon.”

Last year, just four and a half miles away on Manydown Farm, Henrik Winberg also spotted a large feline that has locally been nicknamed as the ‘Basingstoke Beast’.

Basingstoke Gazette: Spotted in May 2020Spotted in May 2020

The then 43-year-old told the Gazette in May 2020: "I was walking my dog around 5:30 up on Manydown farm. I was on the phone to my partner when I saw this black panther about 100 meters away moving fast.

"My daughter says it is definitely a black panther. It is very big.

"I felt afraid to let my dog loose. I would not let him off the lead. It looked bigger than a fox. I was not frightened but intrigued."

According to the international wildlife charity Born Free, over 300 dangerous wild animals are residing in Hampshire alone.

The animals include six big cats such as European Lynx and Servals, other animals recoded to live in Hampshire include three primates, 39 crocodilians, 41 venomous snakes and five venomous lizards.

It is thought due to the nature of the animals, most owners fail to report escapes or attacks for fear of the animal being removed or their licence revoked.

Hampshire police and the British Big Cat Society have been contacted for comment.