7/4/2009

Animal welfare officers from Pembrokeshire County Council are investigating a second sighting of a big cat in the Johnston area.

The panther-like animal was spotted over the weekend by a husband and wife who live in the village but who do not want to be named.

They described the animal as black, between four to five feet long with a curled tail and they watched it for several minutes.

Animal welfare officers have visited the scene to discover if it left tracks which could lead to its identification.

Nigel Watts, a principal officer with the Council’s Public Protection Division, said: "We have spoken to the couple who are quite genuine and who are convinced that what they saw was a big cat. We have also contacted the police to inform them of the sighting."

It is the second sighting in the past month of a large cat-like animal in the Johnston area.

In March a cyclist described seeing a "jet black panther" which stopped 50 to 60 yards in front of him on a cycle track off the Old Hakin Road.