Expert adds to wildcat find debate

A wildcat expert and author who discovered a sub-species in the 1990s today waded into the mystery of Shropshire's own big cat - claiming it could be one of two mystery species native to Britain.

• See also: Is this proof of county big cat?

Di Francis, who helped prove the existence of Scotland's first black wildcat - The Kellas - said the carcass of a large feline found by a Shrewsbury paramedic could be a species referred to as the "rabbit head".

But the author said that although the pictures showed similarities with the rabbit headed cat - the animal's huge tail meant it could even be a juvenile big cat which some researchers believe could have been native to Britain for thousands of years.

Ms Francis, who has produced several books including "The Beast of Exmoor: And Other Mystery Predators of Britain", said new photographic evidence of the huge beast had recently come to light.

Ms Francis said the pictures taken by Terry Meagre, of Copthorne, appeared similar to a recent "rabbit head", but she said it could also be the mystery large cat .

She said:"At first glance the riverside cat does resemble the 'rabbit heads'.

"The interesting thing is the tail is quite long and longer than you would expect for a rabbit head. It might be the juvenile of the big cat because it also resembles a photo that has not yet been published of one that was found on a beach in Scotland."