A “big black cat” has been spotted by two Telford sisters – the fourth sighting in the town in less than two weeks.

Bonnie and Sam Anderson, 33 and 35, saw the panther-like animal running in front of their car as they drove up Finger Road, towards Dawley, last night.

Mother-of-two Bonnie, from Tweedale, said it leapt over a barrier on the side of the road and headed towards Horsehay and Lawley.

“It was at 6.55pm and we were in the car and this thing just ran in front of us,” she said. “There was me and my sister and we both saw it. It was all black and had a long tail.

“It was quite long, that was the main thing, a good few feet, and it would have come up to the car bonnet’s height.”

She added: “It was very fast and the tail just swept off the floor. It jumped the metal road barriers.

“I’m pretty excited about it. . . I never thought I would see it.”

The most recent previous sighting of a large black cat was by a police officer near The White Horse pub in Dawley at 3.15am on Friday.

Last Tuesday, two park rangers saw a large cat-like creature leap over a 7ft high wall in Telford Town Park.

And Diana Young, 65, saw a long dark-coloured animal in fields as she walked her dog between Lawley and Dawley on November 17.

Anyone who spots such an animal can call the park ranger service on (01952) 290240.