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MACHARS MYSTERY CAT

A MINISTER and his young daughter are convinced that The Machars has its own mystery big cat.

For as they drove west along the A75 road towards the Barskeoch road end, just west of Newton Stewart early on Sunday morning they saw what looked like a cougar crossing in front of them.

Rev Richard Trumayne told the Free Press this week:

"It was too big to be a cat or even a wildcat. It was just crossing the road. We had a full view sitting high up in the van.

"It just padded across the road on great big paws. You could see them".

Twelve year old daughter Callie said:

"At first I thought it was black panther but it was not black. It's tail was swooped down with just a little piece of curl at the rear.

"It is the first time I have ever seen anything like this in the wild".

Mr Trumayne, who ministers to travelling people is normally based in Berwick and travels the A75 to the travellers site at Barlockhart outside Glenluce. It is the first time he has seen the big cat.