A BIG cat has been seen on a country road in North Yorkshire, it was claimed today.

Bob Chaffer, from the British Big Cats Society, said the leopard-like creature was seen sitting on a roadside verge by a family visiting Kirkham Priory, off the A64 between York and Malton.

"They stopped the car and switched the engine off and at a distance they sat and watched it for several minutes," said Mr Chaffer.

"Then it went into the hedge and disappeared.

"The man who contacted us said his wife and two children were in the car watching at the same time."

The animal, which it is believed could be a black leopard, was estimated to measure three feet high and five feet long.

Black leopards have dark-brown fur with slightly darker spots, and are often mistakenly thought to be panthers.

"Over the last nine years we have had reports of a similar-looking cat at various locations between Castle Howard, Whitby and Scarborough," said Mr Chaffer. He said it was possible that such animals were roaming wild after being kept as pets, then released by their owners. A spokesman from North Yorkshire Police said anyone who spots what they think is a big cat should report the incident to the police.

Updated: 12:27 Friday, September 06, 2002