Tom and Christmas Moore (both 28), of Deene Close, say they were shocked to discover the 30cm-long appendage on their front lawn last Wednesday.

Mr Moore, a project co-ordinator at De Montfort University, said: “My wife called me at work and told me that when she had answered the door to the postman she had looked at the front lawn and seen an animal’s leg. Surprised and a little bit startled she closed the door and called me about it. My response was not to worry and that I would clear it up when I came home.

“When I returned home I was quickly ushered through to the garden to see the mystery leg. Expecting to see a poor little sparrow’s limb, severed at the paws of an evil cat or even a mouse's rotten appendage I was shocked to say the least to see that this mystery limb had a hoof. I couldn’t believe it.

“It seemed fairly fresh as there weren’t any maggots. It looked as though it had been ripped off.”

Mr Moore contacted the police to report the find before throwing the leg in the bin but says the issue of where it came from or how it got there remains a mystery.

Mr Moore said he believes the leg may belong to a goat or a deer and added: “The police said it was strange and that they’d contact me if anyone else reported something similar but I’ve heard nothing back so far.”