A ravaged deer carcass could be the first real evidence of the mysterious St Albans big cat sceptics have been waiting for, after years of unverified sightings.

Herts Advertiser: Who, or what, savaged this deer?Who, or what, savaged this deer? (Image: Archant)

The mutilated muntjac corpse, stripped down to its spine and missing a bottom half, was found last month (March 1) at about 8am along Sheepcote Lane in Wheathampstead by a 44-year-old dog walker, who wished to remain anonymous.

Her interest was piqued when the dog started sniffing around something on the ground - it turned out to be chunks of fresh meat littering the undergrowth.

When they continued to walk she stumbled upon the rest of the left-over remains, pictured above.

As its eyes were clear black she believes it had been freshly savaged, and when she returned the next morning it was gone.