Victoria Gerrish, 15, of Scrivelsby, said she was not convinced by the black cat sightings she had heard about until she saw one for herself.

She had become suspicious after discovering some strange paw prints in her garden, which looked like they could belong to a big cat.

A few weeks later, she was confronted with the mysterious creature while walking down a single track lane nearby.

Crossing the path, a few metres in front, she came face to face with the creature.

"It was really eerie," she said. "It was the size of a collie and had a really long tail and big eyes."

In 2003, big cat watchers Mark Fraser and Brian Murphy from the Scottish Big Cats Society and Chris Mullins from Beastwatch UK visited Hemingby and managed to get footage of a large black cat grooming itself next to a caravan.

Sightings have also been recorded in Spilsby, Sotby, Ludford, Baumber and Louth and Woodhall Spa in recent years.


* Have you seen the big cat? Email sean.topham@jpress.co.uk or write to the Editor, Horncastle News, Church Lane, Horncastle LN9 5HW.