A couple from Bodmin were shocked to discover this small Asian mammal roaming in their back garden.

The "Little Beast of Bodmin'' is a common palm civet which, are kept as pets in parts of southern Asia as they eat mice and snakes.

It is normally found in palm trees and inhabits forests and woodland areas, but often makes its home in the roofs of houses.

How it ended up in the back garden of a local couple is a mystery, but experts at Newquay Zoo believed it may have escaped from a private collection.

The couple, who do not wish to be identified, captured the creature on video after leaving seeds out for it to eat.

At first they thought they were dealing with a racoon, but after capturing the animal and taking it to Newquay Zoo, it was identified as a common palm civet.

The zoo's director, Stewart Muir, explained: "This is not the sort of animal you would expect to find roaming in the countryside, so it came as a big surprise to see the film footage of a civet.

"A small number are kept and bred in the UK as pets so I strongly suspect that it has escaped from a private collection. "One interesting fact about them is that, in the wild, they also eat the fruits and seeds from coffee plants. The most expensive coffee in the world is that made from beans that are extracted from civet poo.

"They are omnivorous and will eat almost anything. While they are not aggressive, they are capable of giving a nasty bite if cornered and would wreak havoc in anyone's hen house.

"For a tropical animal they are surprisingly hardy. I remember seeing them in Moscow Zoo living and breeding quite happily in sub-zero temperatures. With the mild climate in Cornwall, this chap could easily survive in the wild.

"Unfortunately we do not have the facilities to hold the civet here at Newquay Zoo but have found a specialist home in Hertfordshire."