River Severn angler is given rude awakening by 'black cat the size of a Labrador'
A fisherman doing some night-time angling at a Shropshire beauty spot says he was woken in his tent by a black cat "the size of a Labrador".
Chris Abbot, 48, from Wombourne, was fishing on the River Severn in Hampton Loade last weekend when in the middle of the night his fishing alarm went off.
Mr Abbot, a counsellor and former TA soldier, said: "I was camped near the Unicorn Inn at Hampton Loade on Sunday night.
"I had my rods in the water all night and I woke to the sound of my fishing alarm. When I left the tent to look down the steep bank I heard rustling in the bushes."
He said despite going out to investigate he didn't see anything so returned to his sleeping bag, but an hour later he went back out to reset his fishing rods, only for a large black cat to break cover and dash past him.
"It was about 3.30am. I was two feet away from it and it darted from a mud bank past me.
"I was in shock at the sight. The beast was the size of a Labrador. I was pretty stunned I don't mind telling you.
"The next morning my girlfriend found what we thought were some paw prints in the mud."
Mr Abbot, who intends to return to the fishing spot to see if he can get a picture of the mysterious beast next week, said he was certain it wasn't a domestic cat.
"I've a cat myself so it was definitely not a domestic cat," he said. "You hear of these things being seen in Dartmoor and other places but this is the first time I've ever seen something like this.
"I'm glad I didn't panic too much and am now wondering if there has been further sightings."
Have you ever come across the Beast of Hampton Loade? Why not get in touch: [email protected].
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