Neither was the snarling beast in the mood for a quiet bowl of milk. It flew at the man, giving him the fright of his life, and several nasty scratches.

The man, from Sydenham Park, southeast London, alerted police after scrambling back into his house.

Officers who visited the scene soon afterwards believe they saw the culprit.

"One police officer believes they saw a large black cat-like animal approximately the same size as a Labrador dog," a police spokesman said.

London Zoo was contacted for advice later on Tuesday morning and schools were alerted.