Have you seen the Walton wildcat?

2:00pm Friday 8th August 2008

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A TEENAGE couple were feline anything but purrfect when they spotted a strange sight while walking near woods at Walton Gardens.

Todd Ryan and Nikki Dutton, both aged 18, ‘paw’sed in their tracks when the saw an unusual animal emerging from the woods after spending a relaxing day at Warrington’s tourist attraction.

The animal that was seen on the evening of July 27 is described as being a large cat that was as big as a German Shepherd.

Ryan from Chapelford, said: “It walked towards us and stopped about five yards away from us. It was dark but we could see the animal clearly and we are both 100 per cent sure it was a cat. It stopped and stared at us for about 15 seconds then we walked past the animal back to our car.”

The lovecats called the site’s ranger because they were worried it would alarm people at a wedding that was taking place. They also called the police who at first questioned whether they had been drinking.

Ryan said: “We hadn’t had anything to drink but I think if somebody rang me and said it I would think they were making it up.”

Nikki, of Old Hall, cried when she saw the animal, not because it was threatening but because she has a phobia of big animals and was shocked by the unusual sight.

Gavin Gibbons, park ranger said: “It’s extremely unlikely and we haven’t had any other calls about the animal.

“I really wish there was something like that though – it sounds good doesn’t it?”

Michael Sorenson, the assistant curator from Knowsley Safari Park said the mysterious animal matched the description of a jaguar and a leopard (often referred to as black panthers) in terms of size and colour.

The animal could have been caracal, found in Africa and the Middle East or the bobcat, which mostly lives in the United States. Both of these animals are medium sized. The only small cat that it could have been is a jaguarundi that is most commonly found in the USA.

He said:”Usually the creature which has been spotted is in fact a black dog – I don’t think it is very likely to be any of the wild species.”