County a hotspot for 'big cats'

More than a dozen sightings of big cats have been reported to police by residents across Shropshire over the last three years, new figures released today show.The figures provided by the police confirm the county as one of the nations hotspots for reports of big cats roaming the area. In the last three years, police said there were 13 reported sightings of big cats made to them.

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One of the sightings, by a policeman, prompted officers to carry out a late night search in the Dawley area of Telford. The locations have included built-up areas including the Forge Retail Park in Telford and outside Shrewsbury's cinema.

Big cat enthusiasts have said they were surprised to hear about sightings in built-up areas. The figures show there were five sightings between February 2007 and February 2008.

Other places said to have been visited by big cats include Old Potts Way, Shrewsbury, Silkin Way and Donnington Wood Way, Telford, Lydbury North and Ackleton.

The sighting by the police officer came in 2006 when he said the "very large black cat" crossed the road and disappeared into the grounds at the back of the White Horse pub in Dawley.

It came just days after two Telford Town Park rangers reported they had seen a "big, black puma" in the park and a woman saw a "big cat" whilst walking her dog between Lawley and Dawley.

Just last month The Big Cats in Britain group said the county was in the national top 10 of big cat sightings, with 15 of the creatures spotted in the county over the past year.

The hotspot was said to be Telford where there were seven sightings of panther-like creatures.

The Big Cats in Britain group received 675 reports nationally last year.

Shropshire is ninth in the league table. Other sightings have been in Craven Arms and Clive

Where animals were seen:

There have been 13 big cat sightings reported to police over the last three years in Shropshire, with five between February 2007 and February 2008. Locations of sightings include:

• Forge Retail Park, Telford;

• Outside Shrewsbury's Cineworld cinema, Old Potts Way;

• Silkin Way, central Telford;

• Donnington Wood Way, Telford;

• Lydbury North

• Ackleton