'Wallaby' may be a mangy fox

The latest picture of the mystery creature, in Lisvane

The RSPCA has revealed that a wallaby spotted in Cardiff may actually be a fox suffering from mange and a bad leg.

Police have been investigating several sightings in the Llanishen and Lisvane areas of the city. At first, amateur photographs taken of the creature suggested it might be a wallaby, or even a young kangaroo.

But an RSPCA inspector who caught a glimpse of it has now said it is probably a fox with a moulting coat caused by the skin condition mange.

A spokeswoman said the fox seemed to have an injury to one of its legs and was limping - which may be why witnesses said it appeared to have been hopping.

"It is looking quite poorly. We have set a trap for it so we can catch it and take it to a vet for treatment," she added.

"There is, of course, no way of knowing if this is the same animal but the one that was pointed out to our inspector was a fox."

The animal has been caught on camera in the Cardiff suburbs several times, including on a garden patio.

One city resident, Wayne Joinson, photographed it in his garden.

"It looked very odd, it had a grey body and a different sort of pointed nose," he said.