Builders have discovered a 100-year-old mummified cat entombed in a roof space.

The crumbling cat, which dates back to the 18th or early 19th century, is believed to have crawled into the tiny space and died.

Now it is going on display at Chippenham's Museum and Heritage Centre.

The builders, who are converting Audrey House, in St Mary's Street, Chippenham into flats, found the cat when knocking through the ceiling on August 1.

Matthew Jenkins, 21, who made the discovery, said: "It was disgusting. I knocked through the roof and then this thing just fell down and landed on my head.

"At first I had no idea what it was, so I took it outside to get a better look.

"When I realised it was a cat I was completely stumped. It was really light to hold and such a strange colour.

"I showed it to the other guys and they all thought it was hilarious but at the same time totally disgusting. There is a newer part of the building close to where the cat was, so I think someone just shut it in there by accident then built on the extension.

"It certainly makes the job much more interesting."

Mr Jenkins then decided to contact the Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre to see what they made of the discovery.

Museum curator Mike Stone said: "This is a very interesting artefact and one which needs lots of investigating.

"It is one of the largest cat carcasses I have seen - nearly half a metre in length.

"We have two other mummified cats in the museum, one of which was found in The Bell pub in Corsham.

"There are two possible reasons why it was there - the most obvious would be that it just crawled up there, got shut in and died.

"However it may also be the case that it was put there to warn off evil spirits which was common in the 18th century.

"After we have finished our investigations the cat will go on show here at the museum.

"It really is one of those things that must be seen to be completely believed."

Mr Stone estimates that the cat had been in the cavity since the last century or even the one before, but he will need to carry out more tests.

Since the feline was found it has taken pride of place on top of the filing cabinet in the site office.

Mr Jenkins and his colleagues are now scouring the rest of the building for more unusual finds.