THE mystery surrounding the possible existence of a big black cat in County Durham has deepened after several more residents claimed to have seen the creature.

Following last week’s report on Neville Shaw, who claims to have seen a black cat about the size of a Labrador in a field near his home in Hunwick, other Northern Echo readers have come forward to say they too have seen what they describe as a black panther in the south Durham area.

Angela Mulholland said she had seen a very similar creature near Bishop Auckland in October last year.

She was driving on the A689 from Coundon Gate roundabout at around 10.30pm when the creature ran across the road just before the turn off on to Hillside Road.

Ms Mulholland said: “I thought it was a fox at first but the way it ran I could only describe was like a panther or tiger and its tail was slim like a cat’s.

“It all happened rather quickly and I did tell my family when I got home and the next day at work as I was totally amazed.

“I had heard stories in the past of a panther in the North-East and am certain I saw it.”

Another motorist said he, his wife and a group of children also saw a panther-like creature in a field beside the A6072 near the George Reynolds Industrial Estate at Shildon three summers ago.

He said: “My wife told me to stop the car and pointed to what was definitely a black panther in the field to the right.

“This was not just a quick sighting, we watched it for a good few minutes crossing the field.

“There were children playing and they ran out of view away towards Redworth shouting, I expect they went home and told their parents a story that would not be believed.

“We had such a clear view of it in the open field, to the point where we could see its shoulder blades and long black tail curled outwards near to the ground.

“It kept stopping and looking around every once in a while.”