A HAMPSHIRE country park is at the centre of a new big cat alert.

The Daily Echo has been told of a fresh sighting at West End's Itchen Valley Country Park.

The big cat, which looks like a lynx, was picked up in the headlights of a car as it swept into the upper car park at the country park.

This latest sighting was made last Friday evening by 33-year-old Barry King, who said he was shocked when he spotted the mystery animal.

It comes just days after a pensioner walking her dogs around the Itchen Valley Country Park saw a ferocious-looking feline sprinting for 30 seconds before it disappeared into woodland near a reservoir.

Mr King, who lives at west Totton and is a regular visitor to the country park, said: "I have seen foxes and deer but I have never seen anything like this before.

"In the car headlights I saw these two little eyes shining. It looked like a lynx but it was a light brown colour and had a short tail.

"It was less than 100 yards away. I did not get out of the car but I shone my torch through the window towards the animal.

"It did not run away but walked fast and kept looking back, which was scary."

The mystery animal disappeared over a hill and headed towards some trees.

Reported sightings at the Itchen Valley Country Park have captured the interest of the British Big Cat Society (BBCS).

Society member John Gledson has visited the area to look for clues and he has plans to make further investigations by installing a trigger camera.

This sophisticated piece of equipment used by the BBCS has an infrared beam which can pick up any animal movement as soon as it wanders into range.