A British aristocrat has put up warning signs for visitors to his estate after a member of his staff photographed a "big cat" prowling through the grounds.
Baronet Sir Benjamin Slade believes the creature has already killed foxes, an otter and some of his chickens, and he fears it could go on to attack his prized pedigree sheep, a dog or even a guest.
The "beast" was photographed by the night porter at the 40ha Maunsel House estate, near Bridgwater in Somerset, in the early hours of the morning about a fortnight ago.
The pictures are blurred but appear to show a large black animal with powerful haunches walking through a meadow of tall grass and wildflowers.
Slade, 67, suggested the creature might live on the nearby Somerset Levels and travel to his grounds overnight looking for food. In recent months he and his staff have found piles of feathers from dead chickens and the mangled remains of a fox.
He is convinced the picture shows a big cat, but admitted it was not entirely clear.
He said: "They don't exactly stand still and pose, which is the problem. It's got a long tail and seemed to be quite big.
"There is a possibility that this thing is bigger than a puma.
"We have put up signs telling people to keep their dogs in the car because there is a big cat about.
"We need this thing out of the way before it eats somebody. I've got a wedding business and we are worried about our guests - they might wander off and get gobbled up."
