Panther panic in cemetery (From This Is Local London)

Panther panic in cemetery

12:43pm Tuesday 27th August 2002

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A community farm has been put on alert after sightings of a big cat in an adjacent cemetery.

Woodlands Farm Trust, which is on the Shooters Hill-Welling border, was alerted by a Bexley Council ranger following reports of a huge black cat in Hillview cemetery.

There have been at least two sightings of the cat reported to grounds staff at the cemetery. It was seen from a distance and ran off into woodland which adjoins the farm.

One was made by Edward Cain, 75, of Lawrence Road, Erith. He visits his wife's grave regularly and was with another visitor when they spotted the cat several weeks ago.

He told the News Shopper: "It was just after the cemetery opened at 9am. We were about 100 yards away when we spotted it. It was huge. We watched it run off into the woods.

"We reported to the staff but everyone was laughing and I felt I was talking silly. But we did see it."

Bexley Council confirmed at least two sightings of the cat have been reported but a spokeswoman suggested it could be a very large domestic cat.

A cat lover, who has lived in the area all her life, said: "Some domestic cats can grow to the size of a dog.

"Even when I was a girl, there were always stories of large cats being seen in Oxleas Wood."

A spokesman for Woodlands Farm Trust said although the farm was taking extra care, especially with children's tours, since it received the warning, staff have seen nothing and there has been no problem with the livestock.

"The only cats we have seen are our farm cats, Ariel and Tompkin," he added.

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