TWO more sightings of a big cat believed to be living in the countryside in the Headcorn area near Maidstone, have been reported.

In the most recent the animal - described as black, slightly larger than a labrador dog and with a long, curly tail - was seen by a Headcorn man close to the railway line just outside the village as he travelled by train to work in London.

Although the commuter only glimpsed the creature for a short time, Neil Arnold, founder of Kent Big Cat Research, said the man was adamant about what he had seen.

Mr Arnold said: "The man had seen a similar animal several years ago in Headcorn and believes that what he observed was bigger than a labrador."

A few weeks previously, a woman and her son found themselves almost face to face with a similar creature as they walked across fields near Headcorn in the middle of the morning.

Mr Arnold, who believes the animal is a black leopard, said: "The son wanted to investigate further and approached the area cautiously and came to an overgrown hollow. Overlooking the hollow he could hear the animal moving about and then the sound of it eating or chewing something."

He added: "The witnesses may well have disturbed the animal while it was feeding, which is why it made for the undergrowth. It is certainly not wise to approach an animal like this."

A big cat was also seen in fields between Marden and Staplehurst on October 30 by an electrician working on a nearby house.

And another sighting was reported in scrub land behind Preston Hall Hospital, Aylesford.

Anyone seeing a big cat can contact Mr Arnold on 01634 302572 or write to Kent Messenger, 6-7 Middle Row, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1TG, e-mail messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk