I WOULD like to add my weight to the black cat debate.

I had a good sighting of the magnificent animal in broad daylight early last year. The sighting took place between Parkend and Speech House on the cycle track there.

It was roughly 21/2ft to 3ft tall. I had a guide to how tall it was because it was next to a fence. I watched it from my vehicle for about five minutes as it sat there eating something in the clear light of day, and then calmly strolled off down the path.

What defined it from any other Forest creature was that it was black, had a long tail and looked distinctly like a panther – most unlike any other animal residing in the Forest of Dean.

Let it be! – Glenn Redwood, Mile End.