A man who is more used to tracking big game through the forests of Tanzania has turned his skills to the Oxfordshire countryside in the hunt for the so-called Beast of Burford.

John Collinson, 78, was a warden at the Ugalla Game Reserve in western Tanzania from 1948 to the 1970s, where he followed the trail of big cats like lions, leopards and servals.

The elusive Beast of Burford, which has been spotted around west Oxfordshire several times this year, is believed to be a black leopard, known as a panther.

Since pictures of a large, cat-like animal taken near Brize Norton were published in the Oxford Mail sparking national interest, several sightings of tracks and what was thought to be the cat's prey have been reported by members of the public.

Phil Batts, of Thorney Leys, Witney, took a photo of what he believes could be the animal's paw print in countryside near the perimeter of RAF Brize Norton.

Mr Batts said: "It's too big for a fox and it wasn't one of my dogs, so unless it's a huge dog like a Great Dane I don't know what it is."

Mr Collinson, of Sturt Close, Charlbury, said he believed a cat could be living wild in the area -- but says the print is inconclusive. He said: "It's possibly a cat, but it's not certain. What I'm looking for is whether there are any claw marks. If there are it's most likely to be a dog, as cats have retractable claws.

"Leopards don't like exposing themselves to people, they're more private than a lion or a cheetah, but they will always adapt themselves to where they're living."