A PANTHER was reportedly spotted in Padgate this week.

On Tuesday, October 11, a mum was driving home to Latchford through Padgate, and reportedly sighted the wild animal.

Julie Murphy was driving home with her daughter, Lois, when she believes she spotted the big cat.

Initially, Julie said she thought the animal was a fox, but when it 'charged' across the road as she was driving, she changed her mind.

Julie said: "It looked like a long, black cat.

"What made me think it was a panther was its tail - it had a long, thin, curved tail."

When piecing together what she saw, the Latchford resident said: "Even though it was dark, I could tell it wasn't a fox."

Julie's daughter, Lois, doesn't believe her mum's claims, but has since researched sightings of the animal online.

There were a few reported sightings last year, in February, November and March, which took place across Latchford and Lymm.

The sighting on Tuesday took place on Blackbrook Avenue, with the animal 'charging' across the road, in the opposite direction to the train station.