ANOTHER sighting of a creature described as a 'very large black panther' has been reported in North Wales.

A couple walking back from the beach in Rhyl claimed to have seen the creature on the nearby golf course.

They described the animal as having a “very long tail”.

They added that it stayed still with its back to them, allowing the couple to pass along the footpath.

They reported the encounter to Puma Watch North Wales, a group set up to document sightings.

The report reads: “As we walked back from the beach down the path that cuts across the golf course my wife said she had just seen a large black dog cross the pathway.

“We stopped and looked out over the golf course and we saw it. It had stopped and was sitting upright some way from us. As soon as I saw it I knew it was not a dog.

“It was still light enough to clearly make out the size and shape of what I am convinced was a very large black cat. My wife also said that when she saw it cross the path. It had a very long tail.”

"It remained motionless with its back to us and we continued on our way.”

The couple say the encounter took place aat about 8.15pm in mid-June this year.

Puma Watch founder Tony Jones said there have been a number of sightings along the Denbighshire coast, all of which have been added to the group's interactive map.

Tony said: "A few weeks earlier in May this year, a ‘jet black’ big cat was spotted lurking near Prestatyn train station, just a few miles from the sighting reported today. The animal was reported to North Wales Police and the incident appeared in the national press.

"And a few miles on the other side of Rhyl, a black big cat was caught on camera in the Coed Y Gopa woodland adjacent to Gwyrch Castle in December 2020.

"Then in March this year, Gwrych Castle - where I'm a Celebrity is due to be filmed for the second time later thus year - shared photos of pawprints found in their grounds, with members of their security staff commenting that they had encountered big cats while working in the castle’s woodland.

"Further inland at St Asaph, a suspected puma was spotted last weekend on Saturday morning. Martin reported the sighting to us after contacting North Wales Police, who he says told him they can’t respond unless someone is attacked.

"Another sighting occurred on the outskirts of St Asaph back in June when Stephanie spotted a “large black puma” jumping and running through long grass."