BIG cats are alive and well and could be living wild on the Roseland.

That's the conclusion, after the sighting of an unidentified beast near Veryan.

Parish clerk Mary Symons was driving from her home at Ruan Highlanes to the monthly meeting of Veryan Parish Council meeting on Monday evening when she was startled by an animal crossing the road in front of her.

She said: "It jumped off the Cornish hedge and down the bank, and then pounced onto the road and up the other side, from left to right, just as I was coming up the hill after passing Melinsey Mill. It was like a cat, but though it was much bigger than a domestic animal, it wasn't very big. It was very slender and sleek and its tail was like a cat's tail and it moved like a cat.

"I could see the colour, which was gingerish to brown, because I caught it in the headlights. It definitely wasn't a fox and though we sometimes see deer cross the roads, it was definitely not a deer.

"I can only think that it was a big cat that is probably living wild." Members of the parish council said there had been recent reports of several lambs being killed in the area. Mary, who is married to a farmer, has lived on the Roseland for 30 years.

She added: "It was a very strange experience and I have never seen anything like it before, or heard anything about big cats on the Roseland.

"But I know what I saw. It was the very distinctive tail and shape of the animal that makes me think it must have been a big cat." Sightings of the 'Beast of Bodmin' are legendary and there have also been reports of big cats in other parts of Cornwall, making the county one of the UK's hotspots for sightings.

Natural England is the public body responsible for the natural environment.

Its wildlife specialist Charles Wilson said: "We had reports of a quite a few sightings of big cats living wild a number of years ago, mostly associated with Bodmin Moor, but I have no recollection of any sightings on the Roseland.

"It is sometimes very difficult to be sure of what we've seen, especially in poor light, but over the years there have been reports of sightings and big cats can't be ruled out."

Mr Wilson added: "Various people have suggested that there might be a breeding population out there, but it is extremely unlikely.

"However, it can't be ruled out that there is an exotic pet that has escaped from captivity, though if it was kept legally it should have been registered under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act and kept under licence." Have you seen anything similar? If so, please call reporter Philippa Spackman on 01872 247410.