Police alert after 'big cat' sighting

Police alert after 'big cat' sighting

Police are waiting to examine a photograph of the creature

Police have stepped up patrols around a Somerset village after a woman spotted a "panther-like" creature.

The woman reported seeing the large cat in a field at Puriton near Bridgwater, Somerset, at about 0900 GMT Sunday morning.

She described the animal, which was black, as the size of a Labrador.

Officers investigating the sighting are waiting to examine a photograph of the creature taken by the woman.

Increased patrols

A spokesman said they were keeping an open mind about the sighting.

"Police are aware and are increasing patrols in the area.

"If we get a lot more sightings in the same area then it would be something we would actively investigate further."

He asked anyone else who spotted a similar creature to contact police.