A stunned resident and nature lover has told of her excitement after spotting the fabled Essex panther walking near the river bank in Sible Hedingham.

Michelle Woodall was at home in Bloor Homes’ Earl’s Garden estate when she spotted the animal across the River Colne outside of her bedroom window.

The giant cat was reportedly between four and five feet long, jet black, with a tail nearly the same length again.

Mrs Woodall said: “I did not quite believe it at first and my first thought was to go for my phone.

“I know what a fox looks like and this was not a fox. It is as black as anything and as large as life.

“I have reported it to the Essex Wildlife Trust. It has been quite exciting since I spotted it."

Although Mrs Woodall did not manage to get a picture of the creature itself, she went to explore the area afterwards and manage to find some tracks which she believes were left behind by the panther.

“One of my dogs is bred to hunt,” she said.

“We went to the path and he cowered down because he had the scent of something. He would not let up.

“The prints are 10cm in size. It is not dog paws because I know what dog prints look like.”

Big cat sightings have been reported in rural locations such as Finchingfield and even nearer to Halstead many times in the past, so it was no surprised when Mrs Woodall posted details of the sighting on the village Facebook page many residents came out in support - saying they had seen the cat in the past.

In fact some zoologists believe dozens of wild big cats are roaming the countryside across the UK and have warned residents never to approach the majestic beasts if they are spotted.

Mrs Woodall, who has only moved to the area in the past few months, said: “Nobody seems to know where it has come from. I assume it would have been an escaped pet.

“People have probably spotted it before and not really thought about it.

“But the number of people who have seen it is astounding.”