Reader David Datta and his wife have spotted the Symonds Yeti as they have dubbed it.

The beast was spotted via footprints last week: "On Saturday morning my wife drew the curtains and reported "gigantic footprints" in the snow on Bicknor Street.

"I enclose photos of what we saw. We measured the distance between each print from toe to toe. It was 54 inches. A normal tall man's stride would be about 40 inches. The prints show (with a normal person's print alongside) must have been made by a bi-ped over seven feet tall.

Could it be that we have a Yeti – or something – I believe Canadians call a Saskwatch – living right here in the Forest of Dean?

Corn circles are one thing, but this monster, or whatever it was, was only a few feet from our front door. We are very concerned.