Reports of "panther" type cat roaming Ross-shire

A large "panther-type" cat has been spotted in the Highlands, police said today.

Northern Constabulary are investigating two sightings of the creature in the past week.

A member of the public reported seeing a "very large, muscular black cat with a square head" in the Fendon area of Tain, Ross-shire, on Thursday.

It was about 4ft long and had a 2-3ft-long tail.

A large cat was also spotted in Dornoch in Sutherland on Saturday.

The animal was seen in an area between Dornoch Caravan Park and the greenkeeper's shed at Dornoch Golf Club at about 8am.

Officers warned members of the public not to approach the creature but to report any sightings to police.

Similar sightings of big cats in Scotland have been reported in recent years.

In July 2009, a member of the public recorded footage of a large black cat walking along the railway line outside his house in Helensburgh while in 2004 there were reports of a large tan-coloured creature known as the "Coulport Cougar" roaming in the woods and hills above Loch Long.

Most big cat sightings are assumed to have been panthers, with a handful of reports suggesting it may have been the lynx - a big cat once native to Scotland.

A police spokesman said: "Police are advising members of the public not to approach the animal if they come across it and report any sightings to their nearest police station."