The mayor of the city of Ladispoli, close to Rome, warned residents to remain in doorways till the large cat was captured.

An escaped lion was filmed prowling the streets of an Italian seaside city for a number of hours after escaping from a circus.

Videos confirmed the large cat strolling via darkish and abandoned streets of Ladispoli, close to Rome, on Saturday night.

Mayor Alessandro Grando warned residents to remain at residence whereas police and circus workers sought to catch the animal.

In a Facebook submit, greater than 5 hours after his authentic message raised the alarm, Mr Grando stated the lion had been “sedated and captured”.

“Now he will be taken in hand by the circus staff,” he wrote, thanking emergency providers and volunteers who helped deliver the beast, reportedly named Kimba, to heel.

“I hope that this episode can stir some consciences and that we can finally put an end to the exploitation of animals in circuses,” the mayor added.

He additional said that he had not authorised the presence of a circus with lions within the city, however stated he didn’t have the ability to stop it.