Crocodile sighting in city lake

Anyone who spots a crocodile is asked to contact the RSPCA

The search - and speculation - is continuing over a crocodile which could be lurking in a lake in Swansea.

An eye-witness and an enthusiast have returned to Pluck Lake in Morfa to try to spot the reptile, with the theory the sighting is an exotic pet.

One man reported seeing the metre-long crocodile while out walking his dog.

Dubbed locally as the 'Morfadile' and the 'Pluck-ness monster', the crocodile has also been searched for by the RSPCA and the police.

I believe myself because I saw it. I put my hand on my heart - that's what I did see Stephen Jenkins, eye-witness

Stephen Jenkins, from Pontrhydyfen, said: "I was walking my dog and me being a fisherman and being nosy near water - I was having a look and I could see something moving in the water.

"I thought at first it was a fish or something or a log - but there was no wind or anything.

"But I could see the ripples coming off this. I had a closer look and it was about four metres from me."

Mr Jenkins said: "I could see the legs and the nose and the tail and everything.

"It just swam down into the deep end, it's eyes were just on top of the water as it was moving the eyes were coming towards me."

The pond is in the Morfa area of Swansea

Mr Jenkins says his friends have been pulling his leg about the sighting but said he knows what he saw, despite not having seen the crocodile again this week.

"I believe myself because I saw it. I put my hand on my heart that's what I did see," said Mr Jenkins.

Enthusiast Gwilym Games, who is a member of the Centre for Fortean Zoology - a group where members like to look into unknown animals or sightings - has been down to the lake to see if he can spot the light green reptile.

He said he thinks it could be a Spectacled Cayman crocodile, more commonly seen in South America.

Mr Games said: "It's going to be having problems, it's ideal water temperature should be 25-35 degrees - but I tested the water and it was just under seven yesterday.

"The Cayman is capable of going into semi-hibernation. The question is how long can it survive if it goes into hibernation."

Anyone who spots a crocodile should not approach it and report the sighting to the RSPCA and the police.

The RSPCA say officers have been down to the lake and have asked anyone who spots it to contact them on 0300 1234 999.

A RSPCA spokesman said: "We haven't heard anything more about this but one of our officers went down just to see what is there."