This is the chilling moment a family spotted a "big cat" prowling around the gravestones in a village churchyard.

The mum and son were enjoying an evening stroll at an ancient church when they saw the large beast.

Footage shows the animal, which resembles a puma or large wildcat, skulking around the graves in St Peter’s Church, in Powick, Worcs.

The 37-year-old son who filmed the animal on August 22 said: “I noticed it run across the churchyard, and I thought it was a fox.

"I even said, ‘oh there’s a fox.’

“Then it stopped, and I saw it was some sort of big cat.

(Image: SWNS)

"It was the size of a large dog and had a huge tail which could only be a wildcat.

“After I realised it wasn’t a fox, I started videoing.

“I was a little unnerved by it, and just a bit shocked.

“My mum was a bit scared to continue walk.”

(Image: SWNS)

The mum added: “I was quite shocked at the time.

"I wasn’t sure what it was at first.

“I thought it was someone’s dog off its lead. And the colour of it was nothing like I had seen before.

"I even wondered if it was a fox.

“It certainly was big. It’s bigger than any UK domestic cat I can find.

(Image: SWNS)

“I looked up puma and it fits the description.”

Locals have now branded the beast the 'Powick Puma' and follows a spate of similar sightings in recent months.

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Village Jan Taylor, 45, said: "My son saw a large dark-coloured wildcat resting against some hay bales in a field nearby. I think this could be the same one.

"As long as it doesn't attack anyone then I think it's fine but it's quite worrying if it appears confident enough to be walking around in broad daylight."