GOYTRE man Kevin Phillips hopes he has evidence which may prove the existence of a big cat in Gwent.

Mr Phillips, who owns a smallholding on the mountains between Blaenavon and Abergavenny, took a plaster cast and photographs of what he bel-ieves to be a big cat's footprint.

Mr Phillips (pictured) had two sheep mutilated last year and thought that a big cat was responsible because of the 'kill pattern' the animal used.

He said: "When my sheep were found mutilated last year, I decided to keep my eye out." He said that he found the prints in the snow last week.

He said: "I noticed these prints that were about four inches by three inches and straight away thought that they could be from a panther or similar type of predator."

Mr Phillips, 44, said that there were two sets of prints, one much smaller than the other, which he believe belonged to a younger cat.

He said: "The animal prints and movements showed that they belonged to big cats rather than dogs."

Mr Phillips said that he followed the prints until they reached tunnels in the mountain side, where they stopped.

He said: "I definitely think this predator is a panther-like creature." Mr Phillips is now aiming to show the print to big cat expert Danny Nineham.

That comes after armed police have been hunting what was thought to be a big cat near the village of Llangadog, Carmar-thenshire, following sightings earlier this week and the death of a dog, apparently savaged by some other animal.

Scientists are testing DNA from a hair found in the mouth of the dog to see if it could be from such a cat.

In September last year armed police sealed off the village of Goldcliff, near Newport, following reports, including one from two police officers, of a black cat and cubs at Shirebrook.

Two helicopters fitted with thermal imaging equipment, and police marksmen scoured the area unsuccessfully.

In 2000, Trellech schoolboy Josh Hopkins said he had been attacked by a panther-type animal which clawed his face.