Villagers’ fear after ‘cat as big as Labrador’ seen roaming Bedfordshire parish
A dog walker reported seeing a large, panther-like animal prowling around a barley field with a 'terrific, three foot long tail'
PEOPLE in a sleepy Bedfordshire village have reportedly spotted a big cat 'larger than a Labrador'.
A dog walker reported seeing a large, panther-like animal prowling around a barley field in the village of Silsoe, Beds., last Thursday.
He described the animal as 'black and larger than a Labrador' with a "terrific, three foot long tail".
Rob Terry caught sight of the beast as he was taking his cocker spaniel Issy for a walk.
He told the : “I was walking along the path and, as I stopped to wait for my dog, I saw it – I just couldn’t believe it.
“It stepped out from the barley and shot across the track. I think it had been eating rabbits as there were dozens dashing about.
“I was very surprised. The first thing I did was grab my dog, she’s a working gun dog so I was afraid she would catch its scent and chase it.”
The sighting has prompted warnings people to stay vigilant in case the mystery beast returns.
A statement posted on Facebook by Silsoe Village council read: "We have been in touch with the RSPCA who advised us to check missing animals - nothing similar there - and the police, who advised that there was not much more than we can do at this stage unless it is spotted again, apart from be aware and be careful."
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People soon took to Facebook with their own theories of what the animal could be.
Simone-Alauna Daniel Mckenna speculated that it was a 'panther', while Christopher Witherington joked: "If it was spotted it would be a leopard."
David Martin took a more sceptical approach, writing: "Most prob a rottweiler or a doberman what's got loose, there is a dog kennels up Thrift Wood (in the village)."
Others said they had actually spotted the creature roaming in Bedfordshire recently.
Sarah Holmes Tracey Pugh said: "Its been around for years in the fields by Barton and Gravenhurst."
Tina Stevens added: "This was spotted in Flitwick (a town in Beds) on Wednesday."
Helen Jones wrote: "Was this what we saw last night on our bike ride."
Angela Allen added: "I saw something like it near Blunham a couple of years back."
More people shared their sightings of big cats with 'huge paw prints' in the area.
Faye Harwood Rogerson said: "I have seen a wild large cat in the fields around the olde watermill in Barton, and then seen it's foot prints later the same year in the snow.
"Absolutely huge paw prints, about 10cm top to bottom. It was first thing in the morning in fresh snow, with no 'human' prints to accompany it, so couldn't have been a dog."
Natasha Upton added: "These cats have been living undisturbed in the British countryside since the 1970s when the wild animals act came in."
A spokesman for Bedfordshire police said there had been no reported sightings and so the force is not investigating at this time.
Big cat sightings have grown in frequency of late with a rambler spotting one in Cumbria and other sightings in the south west.
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