A HUNT was continuing yesterday for a mysterious big cat after another sighting in the region.

There have been a number of reports of panthers and pumas across the region during the past few weeks, including Durham, where there have been reports of several lambs killed by a wild animal.

However, attention has now switched to North Yorkshire, where a woman walking on fields at West Lutton, near Malton, reported seeing a large black cat - which she described as bigger than a Labrador.

A similar description was also given of an animal reported by a driver using the A65, near Settle, on the other side of the county, who claimed to have seen a large, black cat jump over a wall in late March.

A number of reports of a "black panther" also came from Nidderdale, west of Harrogate, in the mid-1990s.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said yesterday: "There is still no convincing evidence to prove there is a large feline creature loose in the wild.

"That does not mean we can discount the possibility and we would encourage anyone who sees what they believe to be a dangerous animal to contact the police immediately.''