'Big cat sighting' in Warwickshire left police officer frozen on the spot - but then he saw the funny side when he looked closer

It is not something he expected to spot while out on patrol - but an officer with the Warwickshire Rural Crime Team got the scare of his life when he came across what looked like a big cat in the bushes.

PC Craig Purcell said he was 'frozen to the spot' when he saw the large face of the mysterious beat.

But luckily for him, it turned out to be huge stuffed white tiger in a bush near Binley Woods.

PC Purcell said: "Walking in the pitch black through a wooded area my eyes weren't quite getting used to the dark enough to see where I was going properly.

"So I grab my torch and almost immediately flash it across a bush to see this (see picture)!

"Cue instant sweat and fear with my feet absolutely stuck to the spot for what felt like an age but was probably only a few seconds.

"I eased the torchlight back around onto what my body was telling me was about to eat me.

"Then absolute relief and laughter as reality kicked back in and I was able to breathe again.

"Whoever put this huge stuffed white tiger in a bush near Binley Woods... you owe me a pint."