EXCLUSIVE

HAS the riddle of the 'beast' stalking Saddleworth finally been solved?

Stories of a mysterious big cat prowling the moors have circulated locally for years, and now an Uppermill pub has become a hotspot for sightings of the beast - believed to be a North American Bobcat.

Michael Taylor and his grandson Ayrton were at The Church Inn in Running Hill Gate when they separately saw the unusual animal.

Michael, who has brewed beer at the pub since 1992, said: "I was by the pigeon loft at about 4pm when I saw it pounding down the field. I have never seen anything like it before. It was definitely not a native animal. It was about four times the size of a normal cat, with a snarl on its face, pointed elfin ears and moving very fast. I think there is more on the moors than meets the eye."

Ayrton, 7, who goes to St Chad's School, saw the cat as well. He said: "I was going to feed the horses when I saw it crawling along on its belly like it was hunting. At first I thought it was a fox, but it had no tail and was bigger.

"I wasn't scared, I think it was more scared of me. I hope I can see it again."

Straight away Ayrton and his dad Julian, landlord at The Church Inn, looked on the internet and identified the 'beast' as a bobcat. The bobcat hunts rabbits, hare and other small mammals and would be well suited to the moorland environment.

Native to North America, these heavily-built cats grow up to a metre long and can live for up to 30 years.

They range from grey to reddish-brown in colour and can have spots or stripes, but wild bobcats are not generally dangerous to humans.

There is evidence they could be a danger to pets if surprised, though they are shy creatures, preferring to come out at night.

Chillingly, just one week before the first sighting Shirley, an Afghan-cross who lives at the pub, returned home with a deep cut to the head which Michael now thinks may have been caused by the cat.

Michael said: "I worry it could be a danger to sheep once lambing season comes."

Recently there have been reports of a similar 'beast' being seen near Glossop in Derbyshire, leading some to speculate it could be the same animal patrolling a wide area hunting for food.

RSPCA spokesman Heather Holmes said: "We get quite a lot of calls like this, which are judged for authenticity by our inspectors.

"The vast majority of reports are unlikely, but it is possible for big cats to be in the countryside. Some escape from private owners, are turned loose, or escape from zoos."

Many experts believe stories of big cats living wild and possibly even breeding in Saddleworth are entirely plausible, as many were released into the wild after stricter rules were brought in by the Dangerous Animals Act in 1976.

The last rash of sightings in the district came in December, 2003, when what was thought to have been a black panther was seen by several people.

Armed hunting parties of local farmers took to the moors searching for the 'beast' and there were claims that a poacher had shot and wounded it near Dovestones reservoir, but no evidence was ever found.

Police warned the shooters to stay off the moors in case there was an accident and it seemed the big cat was scared off - until now.