Is this a black panther? (From Wiltshire Times)

Is this a black panther?

10:12am Thursday 22nd March 2007 in News By Helen Thomas

ANOTHER panther-type cat has been spotted in Trowbridge.

Matthew Finch, of Blease Close, was shocked to see the animal in a field behind Airsprung Beds in Canal Road as he left for work at 7.30am yesterday morning.

The assistant branch manager at West Wilts Wholesale Electrical, said: "As I walked out the door I thought hang on a minute'.

"It looked like a cat but it was a lot bigger. It was definitely a cat. It walked like one and had its big black tail in the air.

"I've heard stories before of people from Airsprung seeing it. It was really amazing and quite exciting. It's not something you see every day."

Mr Finch took a photograph of the creature with his mobile phone and contacted his girlfriend to take a picture from the bedroom window.

After resting a while in the field the cat, which Mr Finch said was the size of a Labrador, stalked off.

Similar sightings of large cats have been made over the years and many believe the sightings are proof there are big cats living in the wild in Britain.

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