Was it the puma

WAS it the fabled Sussex puma?

East Sussex County Council ranger Jessie Leamey was on the edge of Markstakes Common, South Chailey, at about noon on Monday when she spotted a large cat-like animal.

The cat stood about 1 ft high at the shoulder and was about 2 ft in length from its shoulder to rear, not including the tail.

It was black and moved in a distinctly feline manner with an extended arched tail and low head. The creature was seen from 30 yards and was running away when Jessie spotted it. She does not believe it was a native cat.

Jessie was walking and discussing footpath maintenance with colleagues near Starvecrow Woods at the time but the others did not see the animal.

It was not clear where it went and no tracks could be found in the severely rutted path.

A county council spokesman said: 'The ranger urges the public not to be alarmed or react in an aggressive manner to this sighting.

'The ranger does not feel concerned about the safety of site users or local stock as an encounter is highly unlikely and this type of animal is very shy.

'There have been no reports of any unusual loss of stock or related attacks and there are superfluous amounts of rabbits in the area for it to feed upon.'

Jessie did not wish to comment further publically.

There have been numerous wild cat sightings over the years, many in the East Chiltington/Plumpton area.

There seem to be at least two types of cat; one low-slung, black and puma-like, the other smaller with pointed ears like a lynx.

It was a lynx-like cat that a rural worker came face-to-face with in Newick last year. The man was working on a hedge when it came out of the brush and scratched him before bounding off.