One of the Hawkmoths I think.

That's what i thought too OB.

How big is it? We need the scale to sort out its id.
then I will look in my daughter's guide to uk caterpillars. It is one of her uni guides and cost an arm and a leg!

About 5cm or an inch and a half.

It is a moth, an 'Old lady' Mormo maura in spring food plants are Blackthorn, birch, elm, hawthorn, ivy, spindles and willow. They feed at night and hide in leaf litter during the day.
the moth is a brown dull job but quite large.

Thank you Seaburngirl, it was indeed found amongst some leaf litter so that makes sense.

It was my daughter who did the id so I will pass on your thanks