Ghosts and ghouls weren't the only things out on the prowl for Halloween in Knossington, where the Rutland panther was apparently spotted.

Leicestershire and Rutland's Panther Watch co-ordinator, Nigel Spencer, of Tyne Road, Oakham, was contacted by a family in the village, who spotted the animal shortly after midnight after going outside to find out what had scared their own cat.

The animal was about the size of a Labrador.

Mr Spencer, 46, said: "This sighting came from a fairly reliable source, not just someone who was staggering home from the pub, or who would make it up.

"It's very intriguing because I don't know why this animal keeps coming back to the village, but we know that in their native countries they do return to the same places."

Nigel's father, David, who is a joint Panther Watch co-ordinator, and lives in Knossington, added: "This is a very important sighting.

"We have had more reports of big cats in Knossington than anywhere else in the UK."

A big cat was first spotted in the village at the fishing lakes in 1983.
To report your local big cat sightings, visit www.bigcats.org.ukhh