A KENDAL postman believes he may have solved the mystery of the infamous big cat sighted around the South Lakesarea.

Richard Ward found a dead feral tom cat, weighing 18lbs, lying in the middle of the A65 between Kirkby Lonsdale and the M6.

The 51-year-old said people were slowing down to look at the body of the animal, which was ‘as big as a fox’.

“If that was running and someone was seeing it in the half-light, they could easily think it was the big cat,” said Mr Ward. “I was just amazed when I saw it.”

‘Big cats’ have been reported over the years at Beetham Caravan Park, the Winster Valley, Ings, Shap, The Helm, Kendal and most recently at Yealand Conyers.