Now cabbie spots the Beast

4:45pm Thursday 19th April 2007

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THE Beast of Biddestone is back, and this time the suspected black panther has been spotted 10 miles away in South Wraxall.

Taxi driver Nigel Davis, of Woods Lane, Chippenham, had a late night encounter with the predator on his way home from a job on Sunday.

As he turned on to the B3109 and headed up the road towards Cat's Hill the 42-year-old spotted the big cat under a sign for South Wraxall.

It was 3.30am and his car headlights took the creature by surprise and it froze as it was illuminated.

Mr Davis, who is married with two children, said: "I was scared witless. It was just crouching there, by the side of the road, looking directly at me. It frightened the life out of me.

"I looked into its eyes and couldn't believe what I was seeing. It looked like it was going to pounce."

Desperately scrabbling for his phone, Mr Davis went back round the roundabout to see if he could get another look at it and maybe take a photo, but the beast had gone.

He said: "I've seen nothing like it. It was really long. I scoffed when I saw the report about the previous sighting and thought it was a load of rubbish.

"The first person I told when I saw it was my boss. Now all my colleagues and friends are laughing at me, telling me to watch out for the Beast of Biddestone.

"I don't care though. I know what I saw and it was no pussycat. I hope someone else sees it because it is definitely out there."

The sighting comes weeks after a group of off-duty police officers spotted the beast in Biddestone on Easter Sunday.

If you have seen a big cat in the area we want to know about it. Call (01225) 773646 or email bparkes@newswilts.co.uk