“"Should have gone to Specsavers"”

“There have been photos in the press before, although hardly conclusive. In theory, I don't see why there can't be a small number of big cats roaming wild in the British Isles that have been dumped after the once cute little cub starts looking at their owner and thinking it's dinnertime. There are wallabys in the Peak District after all - not exactly an indigenous species.”

“Translation; self-deluded/mentally ill/pathological liar fantasists claim to have seen things (always when there are no other witnesses and they don't have a camera/phone to hand. Funny that) for which there is other corroborative evidence, no signs, no trails and no photos.”

“As BBC's Chris Packham said last year on AutumnWatch, you will hardly see the big cats here because of their stealthy nature, but you might see their signs.”

“The Glos. Police wildlife liason officer is called Mark Robson. I have personally had a conversation with him about the very regular sightings of big cats in Cirencester and Gloucestershire. Like you, I have also spent many hours running and walking around the UK countryside with no sightings of a cat. However, when I was going about my daily business in Cirencester I DID see one on the outskirts of the town. People don't tend to carry cameras with them everywhere they go but that should not mean they should be mocked. If you read the report carefully, it says these sightings were reported directly to the Big Cat Society and not the media, so the eye witnesses were not seeking your approval or praise for what they have seen. These cats are very shy animals (apparently), which might go someway to explaining why you have not seen one - particularly if you walk through the countryside with the same ignorance you have shown in your comments on here.”

“Bloody cheek - you watch your tongue El Lince, Donana! I have rambled very many times and very many miles throughout the British countryside and have yet to see or hear of any tangible evidence for the presence of big cats. Perhaps you should try getting out more yourself, or go seek some therapy. As for "any Wildlife Liaison Officer at any constabulary, and any off duty policeman who has seen them." What clap-trap - who and where - name some names - your pronouncements are as enigmatic as the 3 "eye witnesses" who claim to have seen the big cat.”

“A quick web serach will tell you who in particur Geraint. And ask any Wildlife Liaison Officer at any constabulary, and any off duty policeman who has seen them.

A gentle word of advice - don't pronounce on topics you clearly know nothing about.”

“Precisely WHO at Glos Police is taking these silly stories seriously Lynx, Glos Big Cat Country? Do please tell us more!!”

“And what precisely do any of you scoffers know about this subject? Not as much as Glos police I'll wager, who recognise that these cats are breeding.”

“There are a number of semi-feral, albeit well-behaved, farm dogs roaming freely around these parts. My guess is that one of them, a black Border Collie cross, is the anonymously reported black cat.

Hopefully, as the Silly Season draws to a close, we will see rather less of this nonsense and more news in the Citizen & Echo.”