A strange animal - like a "very, big long rat" or "escaped creature" - has been seen crossing a dual carriageway and in a garden.

The baffled driver spotted it on the A256 near Thanet Waste Services in Sandwich on Saturday morning.

Other residents say they have seen a similar creature in their garden - and believe it is a "muntjac".

The driver, posting in the Deal Watch Facebook group, said: "Couldn't quite work out what it was. A bit big for a stoat, maybe mongoose like.

"Had heavy hindquarters, otherwise could have been a cat from the glimpse we got.

"Could have been a very big, long rat, I suppose, but I don't think so, or could have been an escaped creature."

Another resident said they had also seen a creature they couldn't identify when driving through Kingsdown, near Deal.

"I'm pretty educated as far as it comes to animals but never seen anything like it before," they said.

Pauline Hughes, who lives in Sholden, near Deal, then wrote: "I’ve seen a weird animal in my garden. I’ve been told it’s a muntjac.

"Only starting seeing them earlier this year. The first time there were two of them."

The muntjac deer was introduced into the UK from China in the 20th century, according to The Wildlife Trusts.

Experts say it has gained a stronghold in south east England, where it can cause damage to our woods through browsing.

"Muntjac deer are notorious browsers, eating the shoots from shrubs, as well as woodland herbs and brambles..."

The Wildlife Trusts website says: "The small, Chinese muntjac deer was introduced to Woburn Park in Bedfordshire at the start of the 20th century and rapidly spread into the surrounding area.

"It is now a common animal across south east England and can be found in woodland, parkland and even gardens.

"Muntjac deer are notorious browsers, eating the shoots from shrubs, as well as woodland herbs and brambles.

"This clearing of woodland understory has been linked to declines in species such as nightingales."

They are also known as "barking deer" because of their dog-like calls.

Muntjacs are small and stock and about the same size as a dog.

They are gingery-brown, with a pale underside, darker stripes in their face, and have small, single-pointed antlers.