A running group got the surprise of its life when following a trail -- a huge footprint covered their path.

Members of Bicester Hash House Harriers were on a run at Kirtlington Quarry, which is now a nature reserve, when they came across the 12m x 4m footprint.

Iain Belton, club secretary, believes another group of runners drew it with powder chalk to disrupt their trail.

He said: "It is a hoax. There are about 250 clubs in the UK and sometimes people turn up to mess around with each other's trails.

"It's quite good, it's a huge footprint stuck in the middle of a nature reserve and it has got our logo in the middle."

But Mr Belton does not think the print will be there much longer as he is expecting the rain to wash it away.

Harrier clubs throughout the country set up their own flour trails as part of fun-run events.