THE mysterious big cats said to be prowling the Cotswolds are the subject of a new book.

Big Cats: Facing Britain's Wild Predators, written by Gloucestershire-based environmental consultant Rich Minter details the history of sightings of the mysterious beats across the country.

The Cotswolds has long been the rumoured home to big cats, with a mysterious 4.5ft creature caught on CCTV near Cirencester Hospital in 2005.

Just weeks earlier, former Cotswold District Council chief executive Bob Austin had spoken of seeing a large black cat near his Stratton home, and the next year a Cirencester teacher told the Standard how he had encountered a large black beast while cycling home.

Other sightings have been reported around the Cotswolds, including in Northleach, Malmesbury, Tetbury, Siddington and South Cerney.

Though the beasts are usually harmless, in 2002 a farmer in Minety reported a large animal was mauling his sheep, and a neighbouring farmer said something had been attacking his sheep.

Author Rick Minter said his book features many cases from throughout Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and testimonials from a range of local experts.

“There are many incidents discussed in the book, where people have reported feeling privileged to have watched a big cat in the wild, felt alarmed at an encounter which was too close for comfort, watched a big cat follow its prey – especially deer – and observed a big cat forage for rabbits and mice,” he added.

The book has widespread received praise from reviewers and experts – former producer of the BBC’s Springwatch Stephen Moss said Mr Minter “Weaves a fascinating story around British sightings of these fearsome predators, without resorting to sensationalism.”