BIG CAT SPOTTED

WINDMILL Hill resident Angela Pearce had an unexpected experience when she drove down a quiet country lane on Monday afternoon.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Jul 2006, 13:38 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:42 BST

For straight in front of her, lying down in the middle of the road, was a large wild cat.

Angela, a support nurse, was on her way from a visit to Bateman's in Burwash at 3pm on Monday when she came upon the rare sighting in the road between Bodle Street Green and Ponts Green.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'I couldn't believe it. It spotted me, got up and sauntered into the hedge in the side of the road,' said Angela.

'I was so excited, I stopped the car, got out and went to the hedge to see what I could see.

'There was a sort of animal track running through it and I briefly caught the shape of the beast on the other side before it disappeared.'

Angela, 34, describes the creature as black, about 2ft 6ins high at the shoulder, with very long legs and long tail.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It had a short head and looked extremely lithe and athletic.

'I went to a gate in the field where the cat disappeared but I couldn't see anything further,' she added. It was the sighting of a lifetime. I didn't feel afraid.

'A month ago I was in the shop in Rushlake Green and heard two people talking about seeing a wild cat, but I didn't think I would be so lucky.'