A Carshalton man has reported seeing a puma racing through his back garden.

Darren Mason, 37, from Park Avenue, said he was about to spend an evening hedgehog spotting with his family when the mysterious big, black cat darted across his lawn at roughly 8.30pm.

He said: "This large dark animal with long legs and a long tail, and the size of a labrador, darted across the back of the garden.

"I turned to my partner and said, What the hell was that?', thankfully she saw it too, so it wasn't just me. The only way I could describe it was like a puma - it was so fast, crossing the garden in seconds."

Experts say the animal Mr Mason saw could not have been a puma because of its colour.

Have you spotted a big cat? Call the news desk on 020 8330 9541.