A MAN came face to face with a black panther on playing fields in the village of Cliffe Woods, near Rochester, while out walking his labrador. He feels so sure that it wasn't alone that he keeps going back in the hope of seeing two.

Ian Marsden, 40, who lives near to the Oakleigh playing fields, said: "I was walking the dog and we were going in the direction of Higham when I just sensed something was behind me. It then moved across and was running parallel to where I was and I would say this went on for about a field-and-a-half.

"It was about 20 to 30 meters away from me and then I finally saw it with my own eyes. And I think there was another one around as well, because one minute it was running parallel to where I was walking and the next minute it was in front of me and there is no way it could have got from one place to another that quickly, so I am convinced there were two of them that night."

Mr Marsden described the beast as a large, black panther, about 8ft long with large, yellow eyes. "It was quite early when I saw, it was about 7.30pm, so it was still light and I did get a very good look at it. It was heading towards the path where we were heading so I had no choice but to run at it. It was probably more interested in looking at the dog," he said.

Mr Marsden picked up a large stick and ran at the animal, which took off in the opposite direction. Since the confrontation, last Thursday, Mr Marsden has been back to the scene.

He said: "It was a lovely looking animal. I am going out there of a night-time with my camcorder in the hope of catching it on film. I have seen them before in Cumbria, but this was the first time I had ever come this close."

*Kent Online's section Kent Big Cat Research has regular updates and information on reported cat sightings throughout the county.