A TRAIL of mauled animals has led to more claims about a ferocious mystery creature roaming near Swindon.

In February, Minety farmer Peter Scott reported that a large animal had killed and maimed his sheep, leaving five of them dead.

In the latest incident a Baydon farmer left a dead pig in his farmyard overnight, to find it had been stripped to the bone the next morning.

He told police the attack had all the hallmarks of a big cat attack.

Since 1991 more than 40 sightings of what people have described as a large black cat have been made in villages around North Wiltshire, including Crudwell, Oaksey, Charlton, Lea, Little Somerford, Brinkworth and Dauntsey.

Another sighting in Long Charlton, by a mother and daughter in November 1996, also backs up theory.

They said they were driving along and saw a huge black cat in the road, so they stopped. It was the biggest cat they had ever seen.

Terry Hooper runs the Bristol based Exotic Animals Register, which logs these sightings. He said: "They are almost definitely big cats such as panthers and lynxes.

"The police have been taking the reports of these animals very seriously, and have logged at least 30 sightings.

"We know panthers have been in the Wiltshire area as we have done DNA tests on their hair and droppings which confirm this.

"We have had recent reports of baby lynxes in the Pewsey area.

"Until 1976 there was no legislation to regulate the keeping of large animals, so after this people who kept private zoos and menageries just let them go.

"Recent sightings of these animals are probably sixth or seventh generation."

Terry, who has been logging big cat sightings since 1975, believes they present no risk to human life.

"If someone confronts one they should simply walk slowly backwards, but the animal will probably run off anyway. You should not panic and run away screaming, as this is what their prey would do and they would be bound to attack."

An RSPCA spokesman said: "We have known of cat owners who bought pumas and leopards as kittens and have underestimated their size and appetite when they are fully grown.

"When they realise they cannot look after them they have simply taken them to a forest and let them go. The animals are natural predators and have attacked sheep, cows and foxes in order to survive."

Former Malmesbury WPC Liz Ashworth said: "I went up to a case involving a still born calf, which was dragged yards across a field and eaten. The vet called the police as he couldn't think of any animal that could do that, not even a pack of foxes."

Anyone who sees a big mystery cat should call Terry Hooper on 0117 902 4807 or the Advertiser newsdesk on Swindon 528144.