'Proof' Big Cat of Cumbria exists as DNA found on mauled sheep

Scientists could have found "proof" the Big Cat of Cumbria exists after leopard DNA was found on a mauled sheep in the Lake District.

There have long been rumours that big cats roam the British countryside with scientists always remaining "open-minded" to the possibility.

But now professor Robin Allaby says a sample taken from the dead sheep has 'Panthera genus' DNA which could only have come from a lion, leopard, tiger, jaguar or snow leopard.

He described the findings as the first scientific proof that the animals are present in the UK with a leopard most likely to be living on British soil.

Mr Allaby told the BBC: "It makes me a convert, on the balance of probabilities, I think this is a genuine hit."

Cumbrian resident Sharon Larkin-Snowden discovered the remains in an undisclosed location in the Lake District in October after she disturbed the creature which had been feeding on the carcass.

She told the BBC: "I saw something black, running, and I assumed at first it was a sheepdog.

"Then I did a double take and realised it was a black cat. It ran towards a stone wall, stopped and then jumped the wall. It was big - the size of a German shepherd dog."

Ms Larkin-Snowden took a swab of the carcass and sent it to Rick Minter, the host of the Big Cat Conversations podcast, who passed it on to Mr Allaby.

The sample was analysed at his University of Warwick lab and the findings prompted Mr Allaby to confirm it was not a fake.

He added: "If this were a fake, I would expect plenty of DNA to be present in order that we would be sure to find it.

"It would be very difficult to plant just a few molecules with any finesse - I don't think I could do it, let alone a lay person."