However, the British Big Cat Society, (BBCS) said it had seen a "substantial increase" in reports over the past six years in the south west of England.

BBC: Drop in big cat reports to Devon and Cornwall Police

Dairy farmer John Mathias said he found one of his calves dead with similar injuries and said he had seen the big cat on several occasions.

BBC: 'Big cat' probe after sheep death in Pembrokeshire

Big "cat-like" footprints were also found at the site, said police.

BBC: Image of 'lion' in St Osyth

Noted animal expert Jack Hanna said that even if Hanson knew the lion, a big cat can be unpredictable in the way it reacts to what it sees or hears.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

"It depends on the individual, but if a big cat had escaped it only has a slim chance of survival, " he said.

BBC: News | UK | Home Counties puma alert

"I have a colleague at London Zoo who was called out last year after the police spotted a 'big cat', only to find it was an ordinary ginger moggy, " he said.

BBC: News | UK | Home Counties puma alert

Noted animal expert Jack Hanna said that even if the woman had known the lion, a big cat can be unpredictable in the way it reacts to what it sees or hears.

CNN: Lion kills worker at sanctuary in California

The committee said HMRC was involved in a "never-ending game of cat and mouse" with the big accountancy firms over the issue, and added that UK tax law was "hopelessly complex and outdated".

BBC: Ban 'insider' tax accountants from government - MPs