A NORTHLEW man has been describing the 'amazing experience' of seeing a panther-like creature in fields near Okehampton last Wednesday.

Chris Ware, an animal feed rep who refers to himself as a 'true countryman', said he had never seen anything like it in his life.

'I have lived in the country all my life and I could recognise the difference between a hare and a fox from half a mile away — I am in no doubt this was a big cat,' he said.

Mr Ware and local farmer David Heard were sitting in a Land Rover after looking at cattle in fields between Follygate and Okehampton when they spotted the animal near a hedge about 500 yards away.

'It was jet black, the size of a labrador and very feline looking,' he said. 'It was in a classic cat position, a little way off the hedge, sitting and watching for mice and rabbits,' he said.

As a heavy shower came in the animal got up and trotted off into the valley.

The Northlew resident said it was a 'fascinating subject to watch'.

'It really made my day and David was over the moon,' he said. 'Some people are always looking for something unusual— if they see a light in the sky they think it is a UFO, but I am the other way, I have to be 100 per cent sure before I make a judgment on it.'

This is believed to be the first recorded siting of a big cat in the vicinity of Okehampton but Mr Ware said he had heard one had been causing problems for farmers in Lydford by killing lambs.

'At this time of year I believe they live on young deer,' he said. 'I do not worry about these animals roaming the countryside — they would not hurt you unless they were cornered and there was no other way out. It is the same as any animal be it a fox or even a squirrel.'

Despite people referring to them as panthers or pumas, Mr Ware's theory is that these animals originate from cats that have gone wild.

'These animals are not as large as a panther — I think they are a result of cats breeding in the wild and becoming much larger or a wild cat breeding with something bigger.

'You hear a lot about big cats sightings but never expect it to happen to you. It was certainly an amazing experience.'