Big cat returns: 'Black panther' seen in Shropshire

Wendy Lochridge was staring out of her window at her home near Oswestry when she saw the creature shortly after 5pm last night.

The 43-year-old, who lives in Morton, said the creature disappeared into some bushes before she managed to get a photograph of it.

She said: "It was about 5.10pm when I was just looking through my living room window which overlooks fields.

"We recently had some hedges taken down at the back of the property.

"What I saw was massive. It was over four foot long and it had a long tail.

"I watched it, it stood there under a tree before it went in the bushes. It was a good 300 yards away from me.

"It was cat-like but with the long tail it was definitely a panther. I have cats of my own and it was definitely too big for a normal cat.

"I jumped in my car to see if I could take some snaps but it had long gone."

She added: "I am going to tell some of my neighbours. There are quite a few farms by me and I know that a lot of lambs have gone missing years ago.

"I will be locking my cats up the next few nights. I have got chickens as well and will be battening down the hatches."

Previous sightings of a big cat took place in Telford in 2008 when Shropshire Star reader Sarah Leeder said she came across the animal while she was walking on the trail near Apley Woods.

The body of a dead big cat was also found along the riverbank on the Severn Way in Shrewsbury in 2009 by local paramedic Terry Meagre, although at the time the British Big Cat Society said despite its size it appeared to be a normal, domestic cat.

A big black cat has also been spotted near Stafford Park, Lightmoor, Broseley and Woodside, as well as stalking along the Silkin Way which runs through the borough.

In November 2006 a big cat sighting by a policeman prompted officers into a late-night search near The White Horse pub in Dawley, Telford. But a search found no trace of it.

• Have you seen the panther? Email ketley.newsroom@shropshirestar.co.uk or call (01952) 242424.