A GWENT photographer hit back at claims that he faked an infamous picture of a big cat.

Norman Evans' snap of what he claims to be a black panther in woodland outside Cwmbran made national headlines in April.

The 43-year-old amateur photographer from Upper Cwmbran claimed he saw the beast when photographing a glamour model.

But a zoologist has claimed the beast in the pictures was nothing more than a £20 stuffed toy.

Chris Moiser, of Plymouth, has studied big cats for 15 years and has written two books on the subject of 'big cat sightings' in England.

In the latest issue of Fortean Times, a magazine about the paranormal, he shows how Mr Evans' photographs could have been faked.

"My opinion is that they are faked, they are pictures of a toy," Mr Moiser told the Argus.

"I recognise the toy used in the pictures as one you can buy for £20, a colleague sent me one from Scotland.

"In the picture the beast has a kink in the tail close to the spine. A fracture on a big cat in that area is very rare. Also the head looks life size but the rest of the body is out of proportion.

"I know big cats from studying them in Africa, and I know you couldn't get that close to one."

Mr Evans said many people have tried to discredit the pictures but he said: "At the end of the day I was there and I know what I saw.

"I didn't fake it and no-one left a toy there to fool me because it was real.

"This thing was a lot bigger than a cuddly toy and a lot more real.

"There have been so many sightings of this thing in Gwent. I certainly didn't expect to come across it, but I know what I saw."

Gwent big cat consultant and expert tracker Danny Nineham said the photograph appeared genuine, but he would err on the side of caution.