NORTH Wales Police have revealed details of an investigation into a "black panther" spotted in Ruabon.

Footprints from the animal were found and examined with the witness saying it had a head “the size of a dinner plate.”

North Wales Police revealed information of the sighting in May 2020 under the Freedom of Information Act.

Their summary of the incident report reads: “Footprints of a large animal found two weeks ago.

“Large animal, possibly a panther seen – head the size of a dinner plate – by a lone worker.

“The lone worker came face to face with the black panther – who was walking alongside the hedge.

“Inf (informant) went [back to the] site later on and took photos the print of the foot – looks like a large animal and inf has looked on google – and looks similar to that of a panther/large cat type animal.

“Inf has contacted the RSPCA, in turn they have advised the inf to contact NWP (North Wales Police).”

The request for the information was made by Puma Watch North Wales, the group set up to investigate and document the increasing number of "big cat" sightings in the region.

North Wales Police also provided a summary of the action they took to investigate the sightings.

It reads: “Received the photos of muddy paw prints. Sent them to wildlife expert evidence witness.

“Personal opinion is that they are the paw prints of a large domesticated cat suspected to be the mancoon [Maine Coone] breed as the prints do not show a claw mark expected of large wild predator cat.

"A panther would also not allow close human contact as it relies on stealth and camouflage to hunt.

“The setting is near a large residential area and with the sighting being over two weeks ago I would have expected numerous calls from other members of the public reporting strange noises, sightings and prey being found up trees and other domesticated pets going missing.“

Tony Jones, founder of Puma Watch North Wales, said he was reassured that sightings were taken seriously by the police.

He said: "Though the police concluded the animal was unlikely to be a panther on this occasion, it’s both interesting and reassuring to see such reports taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.

"Since this animal was spotted in Ruabon, there have been multiple reports of similar animals in the nearby area. Just a few miles away in Pontcysyllte, a “massive panther-like big cat” was caught on camera in April 2021. Within a few hours, another witness saw what could have been the same animal jumping over a fence at Chirk McDonalds.

"A 'huge black creature with a long tail and orange eyes' was spotted in Wrexham that same month.

"And back in 2018, North Wales Police released an artists impression of a “large cat” they were looking for on the A5 between Llangollen and Chirk, just a few miles from Ruabon, and warned the public not to approach the animal."

Earlier this year, the Welsh Government responded to the recent spate of sightings and confirmed the steps they take to investigate any reported to them, including taking casts of paw prints.