CLAIMS that a big cat could be prowling around Cirencester have been given extra credence after a high profile witness said he too has seen the beast.

Bob Austin, chief executive of Cotswold District Council, spotted a jet black panther-like beast close to his Stratton home on Sunday morning.

The creature was prowling near children's playing fields on the corner of Grange Court. Stratton has a lot of green open space adjacent to residential property, exactly the kind of location where previous sightings have occurred.

Mr Austin said: "I am absolutely certain about what I saw. It was about the size of a Labrador but definitely not a domestic cat or dog.

"It was about 75 yards away and this cat-like animal was right on the corner of Grange Court and the open play area.

"It was standing absolutely still with an arched back and for a moment I thought it might have been a prank, but then it dropped its back, turned in a circle and walked towards the primary school.

"I didn't follow it because it was bigger the my dog and thought it wouldn't be a good idea - it was about two feet high and four feet long, with a thick tail."

Mr Austin said he had just read a report in last week's Standard about more sightings before going out for a walk that morning. Since the story was published our newsroom has received several calls from residents with similar stories.

Mr Austin said: "I suppose I was surprised but having just read the article in the Standard I probably took more notice.

"I wasn't particularly frightened because I have been around animals all my life - it didn't make any threatening moves or anything.

"It just looked king of the patch and not at all worried about people."

Mr Austin promptly visited the British Big Cats Society website after spotting the animal and filed exact details of what he witnessed.

And BBCS founder Danny Bamping says he is delighted with the new sighting from such a credible source.

He said: "We have had a lot of sighting in the Cirencester area in the last few weeks and it's really good that Mr Austin has visited our website.

"Someone in his position isn't going to come out in the public eye and say he has seen something he hasn't - it is a very credible source."

Ever since the introduction of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act in 1976 sightings such as those recently reported have been common throughout the UK.

The legislation was passed in response to public concern about the keeping of dangerous pets, especially big cats, and it is widely thought that many private owners released their pets into the wild to avoid licence and insurance costs.

The fact that sightings continue today, almost 30 years later suggests many of those creatures released did not simply survive, but thrived and have successfully reproduced.