AN ARBROATH man has been left in no doubt that there are big cats roaming the Angus countryside after he had a close encounter with such an animal near the outskirts of Brechin yesterday morning.

Mr Peter Laing left his home in Grange Path early yesterday to take a neighbour to Stracathro Hospital.

He said he was approaching Kinnaird Park area when a large beast broke cover from the side of the road and ran right across the path of his car.

“I was between Farnell and the straight which leads down to the Brechin bridge when this thing came right across the road and into the woods,” he said.

“At first I thought it was a fox but it was jet black and about the size of an alsation.

“There were two others in the car as well as me and we all saw it. It was moving very fast but there was absolutely no doubt it was a cat.”

Mr Laing said he had previously kept an open mind about the possibility of big cats in Angus.

“This animal was barely 40 yards away and it was as clear as you like. It was a big, black cat,” he said.