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Off duty police spot big cat

10:08am Tuesday 10th April 2007

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TWO police and a civilian officer were shocked to see a big black cat run across fields in broad daylight on easter Sunday.

The policemen and their families were stunned after spotting the animal near Hartham Park, Corsham and were left in no doubt that this was indeed a 'big cat'.

The officers were off-duty and walking with their families after lunch when they saw the Panther-like creature running at speed across a field some distance away.

One of the officer's wives, who works for the police in a civilian capacity, said they had no idea it was posisble for big cats to live in the countryside, having recently moved from Bristol.

The sighting took place at around 3.30pm between Weaven Lane, Biddestone and Hartham Park, the stately home that is now a high-tech business park.

The woman, who does not want to be named, added: "We were pointing out Hartham Park to our friends when my husband said 'what's that animal there?' He's got incredible eyesight, but then we all saw it too. It was three fields away and we could see it clearly. It was big, black and running very very fast.

"It was the size of our German Shephered dog but longer. But it didn't run like a dog at all, it was much smoother and ran lower to the ground.

"It was jet black and we watched it for as long as 20 seconds.

"We all scoffed at first at the idea it was a big cat, but quickly realised that was what we were watching. It was so fast and ran so distinctively. We were all left shocked."

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Your Say YourWiltshire Times

Mark, Chippenham says...
11:13am Tue 10 Apr 07

Three fields away! that is good eyesight indeed.

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Yet another, wilts says...
11:40am Tue 10 Apr 07

Here we go again.....
It really is amazing what you can spot wandering home from the pub. Beer + Sun = Hallucination!!!

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Anon, Melksham says...
11:49am Tue 10 Apr 07

"It was big, black and running very very fast" .............
Maybe Linford cristie was out for a run?!?

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Funky Cold Medina, Melksham says...
12:34pm Tue 10 Apr 07

What a load of rubbish. I reckon they've been taken some drugs they seized over the weekend.

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anon, says...
1:35pm Tue 10 Apr 07

It`s amazing the police can see a big black cat three fields away but they never seem to see any crime`s happen!

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Jackie, Devizes says...
1:45pm Tue 10 Apr 07

I think that there is something to it. Perhaps those people that are convinced there is not, wouldn't mind wandering about at night in the area with a string of sausages tied round their necks, waving beef steaks and doused in cat pheromones? That way, if they are not attacked, we can all be sure that there's nothing to it. And if they are attacked, we will have much more compelling evidence to support these "sightings".

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Mark, Chippenham says...
3:08pm Tue 10 Apr 07

I'm up for a camping trip, taking my field rations of uncooked meat and container of cat love that i carry around with me all the time, lets go.

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anon, says...
3:25pm Tue 10 Apr 07

maybe it was a cat burglar making his getaway!!!!

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Anon, Wilts says...
3:40pm Tue 10 Apr 07

Jackie wrote:
I think that there is something to it. Perhaps those people that are convinced there is not, wouldn't mind wandering about at night in the area with a string of sausages tied round their necks, waving beef steaks and doused in cat pheromones? That way, if they are not attacked, we can all be sure that there's nothing to it. And if they are attacked, we will have much more compelling evidence to support these "sightings".
... is that how you get your kicks then lol

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Sam, Wilts says...
4:19pm Tue 10 Apr 07

If they could see it that clearly from 3 fields away, it must be huge....are we looking at sabre tooth tiger status?!

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Snarf, Cave says...
4:21pm Tue 10 Apr 07

Thundercats are go!

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Dave, Hartham Park says...
6:10pm Tue 10 Apr 07

ITS TRUE... He ate my leg...

"Your leg?"

I... got better.

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catlover, trowbridge says...
7:43pm Tue 10 Apr 07

Wow! Lets hope there is not too much "pussying around" on thin one then

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sarah jane newbury, trowbridge says...
8:59pm Tue 10 Apr 07

As I said on the other article about this recently I myself saw a huge cat years ago while I was travelling home on the train from working in an office. I have believed since then there is a panther and I wonder how long they generally live. I think eventually someone will film or photograph it.

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sarah jane newbury, trowbridge says...
8:59pm Tue 10 Apr 07

As I said on the other article about this recently I myself saw a huge cat years ago while I was travelling home on the train from working in an office. I have believed since then there is a panther and I wonder how long they generally live. I think eventually someone will film or photograph it.

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Car Mechanic, Trowbridge says...
9:01am Wed 11 Apr 07

Could it have been a 'Panda' ??

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Mark, Chippenham says...
9:12am Wed 11 Apr 07

Yep it was a Panda - Endangered species no... they all just moved to the woodlands surrounding wiltshire.

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anon, says...
11:50am Wed 11 Apr 07

Its my pyjama case!!!

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welderman, trow says...
4:06pm Wed 11 Apr 07

A big black ****?!
it had to be fatima whitbread sunbathing. he hee

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neil bedford, corsham says...
1:19pm Tue 17 Apr 07

Some years ago I saw such a creature near my home in South Glos, very early in the morning. I mangaed to get quite close to it before it was spooked by my Alsatian. They are most certainly living in the area. The one which we saw was a sleek black cat significantly larger than my adult Alsatian.

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Alex, Melksham says...
9:15pm Sat 21 Apr 07

Anon wrote:
"It was big, black and running very very fast" .............
Maybe Linford cristie was out for a run?!?
I Lol'd So Hard

But this thing really scares me. a few of my friends have been talking about it =[
Help Anyone?
Anti-Panther Body Guard Is needed imo

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Was it a panther like this that was spotted in Corsham? Was it a black panther?

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