A so-called dead leopard , spotted at the side of the A30, earlier today has been identified as a discarded wicker basket.

A so-called 'dead leopard', spotted at the side of the A30, earlier today has been identified as a discarded wicker basket.

The Herald dispatched a reporter to the site following a tip off from a reliable source.

Our reporter says: "from a distance, the colouring did look a bit like a leopard. However, upon closer inspection, I could see it was a wicker basket.