A COUPLE out kayaking in a north Wales town claim to have come across a 'big cat'.

The term is usually used to describe large wild felines such as tigers, lions, panthers, jaguars, leopards, cheetahs and cougars.

Earlier this year, the DNA of a big cat was identified from a swab which was taken from a dead sheep in the Lake District proving that at least one could be running wild.

North Wales has had various alleged sightings of big cats in recent times, including in the Wrexham area.

Now, the latest reported sighting comes via a couple who were in Llangollen over the weekend.

Natalie and David Davis were kayaking along the canal between the Trefor Basin and Llangollen on Sunday afternoon (October 13).

While floating along, they spotted what they believed to be a big cat and were left 'astounded' by it.

Natalie said: "As we were returning, around half way back close to Wenffrwd culvert, my husband spotted an extraordinarily large black cat moving in a zigzag fashion across a field.

"He called to me and I was astounded to see it. I am absolutely certain that the animal we saw was far too big to be a domestic cat and was the wrong shape for a big dog.

"The picture was taken just before the animal disappeared into the bushes."

Several sightings of big cats have been reported recently in north Wales.

In 2022, one member of the public claimed she saw a big cat at a caravan park in Chirk.

The Leader also covered a story in April 2023 of two 'big black cat' sightings in Wrexham around the same time. One was seen in Rossett, while the other was spotted near Wrexham Industrial Estate.