Police were scrambled after a man suffered a laceration delivering a letter on Tuesday afternoon.

The victim stated during an emergency call that his fingers had been cut with a knife or some glass, causing a “nasty” cut after pushing the letter through the door.

Bodmin units were dispatched immediately to the location, and specialist armed response units were on standby to assist.

But officers quickly identified the assailant was none other than the resident guard cat being a "little territorial."

A spokesman for Bodmin Police said: "Luckily the gent is ‘feline’ fine and been given ’paws’ for thought about the dangers of putting fingers through letter boxes. 

“It was a purrfect end to this job.”