AN ISLE of Wight family has reported seeing a "black panther" near Lynbottom Tip today (Saturday).

There have been many reported sightings of black panthers on the Isle of Wight over the years.

Never, has a picture been taken to substantiate the claims.

The latest person to spot the camera-shy, but contrastingly large cat, is Clare Short, who says she and her family saw an animal bigger than a Labrador near the Newport dump.

She said it had a big, thick long tail, and when her husband tried to take a picture, it scarpered into long grass and out of sight.

Several Islanders, commenting on Clare's Facebook post on the Isle of Wight Community Information page, said they had also seen the big cat.

Alice Goddard said the first sighting of a panther on the Isle of Wight went back as far as the 1980s.

Tanith Yates, posting on Facebook, said she saw one years ago on Military Road.

Laura Phillips echoed Tanith, but said she had never reported it because she didn't want to see the animal hunted.

Pam Brown, posting on Facebook, said: "Years ago, as my husband was driving us to work, I saw a black panther walking across a field opposite Robin Hill.

"Like you, I know what I saw."

If anyone has a photo of the panther, to lend credence to the report, please email editor@iwcp.co.uk