An hysterical woman phones Essex police to say she's seen a puma on the prowl. Cue major investigation.
The Weald country park near Brentwood is not exactly the place you'd expect to see an American mountain, more the back woods of Essex, but the wildlife round here is apparently extraordinary.
A police armed response unit and helicopter were sent out, yet this morning there were just a few tame park animals about - although a herd of wildlife photographers were on the prowl - so we were taking no chances. I stayed parked safely in a car seat while my cameraman sampled the wilds of Essex but he's had hostile environment training - which is more than I have.
We told the rangers we were in search of a puma or the dead deer which had been savaged. So apparently were 200 other people who'd all been alerted by the police, but all the deer were happy and healthy so surely this was just a wild cat chase. Undeterred and knowing Pumas live in trees we went out fearlessly on foot.
Then we saw it large - black - and legging it -but no its an old shaggy dog - some story!
So was anyone taken in? You'd have thought after 50 sightings in recent years - and not a Puma caught - the police might have given up the chase. We have....
