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Giant Cat Sighting Shocker for Walker
NEW video footage of what is believed to be a big cat roaming the hills and valleys of the Moorlands has emerged.
The sighting occurred on August 30, at Rudyard Lake, by children's author and scientist Keith Mansfield, who has provided Your Leek Paper with a copy of the film.
Mr Mansfield spotted the large, light brown, cat-like creature in a meadow beneath the raised path by the Rudyard Steam Railway at approximately 1pm.
The 42-year-old was walking up to the Rudyard Lake dam for a picnic when he saw the creature.
He said: "We started walking just after midday, at about 12.45pm. It was a reasonably clear day with good light and visibility. After three or four hundred metres, at an opening in the trees to our left, we simply stopped and stared.
"A large cat-like creature was prowling through the meadow beneath us. It was sandy coloured, with a long tail that curved down and then up. I can't remember now but there may have been a small splash of white on the tail or it may have been all sandy.
"I'd have said it was at least six or seven feet long.
"It was odd because it was so clearly out of place in North Staffordshire, that the whole thing seemed quite unreal.
"The animal ended up at what looked like a small stream or brook."
The sighting was reported to Big Cats in Britain, an organisation which is trying to trace other witnesses in the area who may have seen the animal.
Anyone else who thinks they may have seen the big cat is asked to telephone Mark Fraser at Big Cats in Britain on 07766 416211.
Reports of big cat sightings in Britain are fairly common, particularly in rural areas such as the Moorlands and the Derbyshire Dales, where it is thought the elusive creatures are able to live largely out of sight while having access to a plentiful food supply.
It is thought that many have escaped - or been released - from private collections but are not reported missing by their owners because they were often being kept illegally.
Do you have any information on the above reports. Were you the person
involved, or are you aware of any more sightings in this area. We would appreciate any information that you could
give us.
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