IN response to the article about the puma sightings, some two-and-a-half years ago, I was driving out of Long Marston towards Wingrave. I had just gone over the brook bridge, before Thistlebrook Farm, when on my right-hand side there was a gate-way with a metal gate to it.

Huddled by this gate were quite a few bleating, agitated sheep. THey were looking up towards Wingrave.

As I had just gone round the bend by the brook, I wasn't travelling fast and in a split second there in front of me on the left-hand grass verge, which was quite big, was what I can only describe as the back-half and curled talk of a very large black cat.

I got out of the car and went to look, but it disappeared into the hedge and undergrowth.

This was about 7.30am on a Saturday.

Someone I later told laughed and asked what I was on, but several days later I was talking to someone else who had seen something similar on the Ivinghoe to Leighton Buzzard road, near the turning to Grove village. Not that far from where I was (as the crow flies, or the puma runs).

Apparently there was supposed to be a large black cat at Thistlebrook. Well, all I can say is that it's a good job that it wasn't a racing cat. Steroids are illegal.

I am totally convinced that these cats are about, but I don't think they are responsible for all these sheep attacks. To be honest, they probably cause less concern than stray dogs do. Both are the result of people's irresponsibility.

Elaine Mead
Marsworth

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