Police hunt mystery big cat spotted in Lothian town

Published on Thursday 6 October 2005 13:08

POLICE are on the lookout for a mystery "black beast" seen near an East Lothian town centre after it was chased by a dog.

The long-tailed animal was spotted on Florabank Road in Haddington, shortly before 6am yesterday. A dog pursued it to Henderson Agricultural Centre before the animal leapt over a 10ft wire mesh fence. Richard Brown, whose dog Jude chased the mystery animal, said: "I last saw the animal disappearing into the dark as it leapt across the stockyard of the centre heading for the main road. I am glad Jude did not tangle with it as I fear it would have come off worse.

"I had just gone out of the house about 5.45am to put the bin out for the refuse men when I noticed what appeared to be a large black dog crossing the road. Our dog obviously caught the scent and went after the animal at great speed, as though she knew she was chasing a big cat.

"There was no sound and the animal took off. It leapt the fence and I saw its black shape and a long black tail. I don't believe it was a deer, and it did not have the bushy tail of a fox. It was a panther-like animal."

Mr Brown later reported the sighting to Lothian and Borders Police. A similar panther-like animal was seen recently in the Dunbar area after it was caught in the lights of a taxi.

And investigations are continuing into sightings of a big cat in the Roslin area.