Original headline: Couple report a panther-like cat sighting
POLICE searched an area north of Wooler last week after reports of a black panther sighting.
Ken and Denise Ashby spotted the cat in a field near Humbleton on Tuesday, October 12, at around 5.40pm.
The couple, from Milfield, had turned off the A697 at the hamlet and was heading towards Wooler.
Mr Ashby said: "As we drove along the lane we could see a field containing sheep on our right.
"My wife said 'what's that?', and as I looked to where she was looking, we could both see a large black, panther-like animal trotting across the field amongst the sheep.
"Strangely the sheep did not appear to be alarmed by it. They just stopped grazing and watched it cross the field."
He added: "We stopped the car and got out to see if we could still see it, but it had disappeared from our view."
Mr and Mrs Ashby said the animal was between four to five feet long with a long thin tail, and was about three feet high. They said it "moved like a domestic cat".
The couple informed the police.
Wooler Inspector Bob Charlton said: "Officers were dispatched to the area after the report and found no evidence of the sighting.
"Farmers and gamekeepers were checked and alerted to the situation.
"There has been no sightings since although we are keeping an open mind."
