Motorist spots mystery big cat
Monday 10th December 2007, 11:20AM GMT.
A big cat has been sighted making an early morning trek across north Shropshire.
Telford Dairy Crest worker Shaun Yale was travelling to work about 5.40am on Sunday when a large black animal crossed the road in front of him in Shawbury.
“The tail caught my eye, very cat-like, despite the size of the animal,” Shaun said.
“I slowed right down and turned round to see it going through a metal gate and into a field near the former Fox and Hounds pub.
“It was the height of three of the five bars on the gate.”
Driving through the countryside in the early morning Shaun has seen many wild animals, including a spectacular stag and a doe last year.
“The big cat is something you hear stories about, but to see one yourself is amazing,” he said.
Shaun, who lives in Telford, had been driving from his sister’s home in Wem, where he had gone to watch the Ricky Hatton boxing match.
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I can quite believe this, as I saw a big black cat-like animal in the distance just outside Shawbury (on the road to Ellerdine) about 18 months ago.
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Be very careful when leaving the pub tonight. With the recent tragedy and now this! Is it safe in Shawbury anymore?
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The Telford big cat has moved, it seems. It was disturbed when its area at Ketley and New Hadley were developed.
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What a fool. Clearly what he saw were the road’s cats eyes. Maybe Mr. Yate should have been in bed at that ridiculous hour rather than roaming the countryside. However, I notice that the tail caught his eye – I hope his eye isn’t too badly injured.
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Maybe he was going to work Harold? Plus I dont think we even have cats eyes in Shawbury en route to Telford. Will have a look on way back from Work.
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Well, he should find himself a 9 to 5 job if getting up early makes him have these hallucinations.
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How did the tail catch his eye? Was the tail that long, or was the cat really that big, or is he very short?
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Harold you should have your own section in this paper. You have me in fits every time i read your comments. Keep it up.
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Harold,I would love to see your face if you came face to face with the notorious beast of Shropshire.
Could be a mirror though.
Only joking.
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big cats yes of course behave, how come the hunt never ever flushed out any out during the hunting season???? and beaters never flush any on a shoot?????,
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I saw this cat too a week ago at stanton crossroads near shawbury.. when i went back to the spot it had gone
My wife thinks i am mad.. but i now know its not just me sein things
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Harold, I love you, you lighten my day
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there are NO cats eyes on that stretch of road ‘ harold ‘
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Spence, light some candles. It’s less painful.
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Harold thank you for your light hearted comment’s I was on my way to work on a Sunday morning on a 6 to 12 shift to dairy Crest’s, roaming around at 5.30 is quite common to us shift worker’s.I had not been drinking or doing drugs so hallucinations are out of the question,I was as shocked as the cat was as it ran in front of my car.Glad you felt the need to comment on my sighting and the bit about the tail was simply inspired.
Before you have your horlicks tonight and tuck yourself into bed at about 7.30 check your garden for big cats and UFO’S in the sky.Men have been on the moon and its not made of cheese and the world is round.I’d imagine the most exciting thing you have done is remove your bike clips in a jaunty way and have a small sherry at christmas.The cold winter evenings must simply fly by.Sleep well Harold
Shaun Yale panther spotter
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Big cats?,well what on earth do they feed on? wouldn’t local livestock be eaten up, or maybe someone leave’s a sourcer of milk out for it.Have you been to an optitions recently Mr Tale?
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I suggest all the jokers look at the research pages on the big cats in britain website or our own http://www.bigcats.org.uk – All the answers you will ever need are on there.
and shaun i believe you – I work for Tetra Pak and work in dairies all the time and its amazing how many managers and shift workers from the dairies see these magnificent creatures in the early hours.
This is not just in shropshire it’s all over the UK . As for the comments on hunts. they do see them, just ask the Cotesmore and Quorn here in Leics and Rutland. Hard for non country folk to grasp but along with wild boar, they have started to colonise the countryside
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