THE Sussex panther could be back on the prowl.

The latest sighting of a black panther-like animal happened at Redford, near Midhurst.

Police say a man walking his dogs spotted a large black cat.

A spokesman said: "He described it as a black panther about the size of a Labrador, but longer and thicker limbed with a looped tail."

There have been dozens of panther sightings in Sussex in recent years.

Two years ago, police marksmen surrounded a copse at Bracklesham Bay, near Chichester, after reports a panther had been seen in the undergrowth.

But the animal turned out to be a well-fed domestic cat.

Police also sent faeces found in a field at Pagham, near Bognor, for scientific examination following another panther sighting.

But the results proved inconclusive and experts were unable to show it came from a wild animal.

The man who made the latest sighting has told police he does not want to be identified.

But a spokesman added: "He has told us that he had always doubted such sightings in the past, but was certain this was

a panther. He was only about 30 yards from the animal."

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