A JOGGER ran for his life after spotting a cat-like beast on the edge of Salisbury Plain.

Roger Broberg, 60, from Bratton, was jogging home one evening when he spotted a strange animal on an access road to the plain just outside Warminster.

Mr Broberg came forward after reading about Panther Watch in the Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News.

He said: "I saw a large black creature which was bigger than a dog and had a long tail. It didn't notice me and I didn't want to hang around.

"I thought the sighting was a bit dubious at first but there was definitely something there which was out of the ordinary.

"I'm ex-navy so I'm not easily frightened, but it's an experience I don't want to have again."

Mr Broberg ran the same route on the following morning to look for any paw prints, but could not find any evidence that the animal had been roaming the plain.

He said: "It seemed to have disappeared without a trace."

The Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News has set up Panther Watch in a bid to catch a big cat on film.

There have been numerous sightings of a large black cat-like beast on the Plain and in west Wiltshire over the last few months.

We are offering the person who takes the best photograph of the animal in Wiltshire the chance to win a family pass to Bowood and a year's subscription to the Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News.

If you have managed to take a photograph of the mystery beast, please contact us on (01225) 352484.