Three members of the same farming family are convinced they have seen a big cat in the South Hams – and wondered if it was connected to a recent attack on a sheep.

Howard Turner contacted us after seeing our online story earlier this week about a ewe that was attacked, near Churchstow, saying his wife, brother and late mother all saw what they are adamant was a big cat in the area.

The ewe, which had recently given birth to a lamb, was badly bitten around her hindquarters on Sunday in what was suspected to be a dog attack.

Sadly, the ewe, that was showing signs of improvement and “perking up”, according to owner Mike Bottone-Gordon, succumbed to shock and died overnight Tuesday into Wednesday and, even more tragically, when she died she fell on her lamb, killing it.

Howard Turner told us the story about his brother Andrew, who is currently working in Norway.

He recalled that Andrew had reported seeing a big cat during the recent snow on Monday, March 19.

Howard told us: “There was too much snow down our lane, so Andrew left his car near South Devon Chilli Farm, close to Loddiswell.

“He left the house at around 4am to get in his car and drive to the airport when he saw the animal in the field.

“He said it was definitely not a domestic cat, but moved in a similar way, very stealthy and gracefully, and very agile as it jumped the hedge without a problem.

“He said it unnerved him and he could ‘feel its presence’.

“My mother, who is sadly no longer with us, saw the same thing a few years ago and my wife, Liz, has also seen something big-cat-like jump into a hedge, all in the same area of Lixton, Lilwell, Loddiswell and Aveton Gifford.”

But Mr Bottone-Gordon, of Trowbridge Farm, Churchstow, said he was unconvinced, purely because of a lack of other injuries on the sheep. He said: “Cats tend to grab their prey before biting it, there were no other wounds on the animal apart from the bite marks. We’re in the field three or four times a day and we haven’t seen anything.”

Mr Bottone-Gordon said he believed the attack was carried out by a large dog.

Thomas Rees, of the Selworthy Vet Group, who treated the ewe, said: “I think a big cat attack is highly unlikely though although it is entirely feasible that a big cat may be around in the South Hams – big cats generally attack by pulling their prey down with their sharp claws where as a dog would tend to bite at the prey the are chasing. However, I think ‘The Beast of Churchstow’ is unlikely.”

Claims of big cat sightings in the UK have been made for decades, with explanations such as wild animals kept as pets that were then released, either as they got too big or after the introduction of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, feeding off of livestock and wildlife away from prying eyes.

Another, slightly more ‘out there’ explanation is that they are surviving Ice Age fauna that have managed to avoid detection.

In 1988, the Ministry of Agriculture sent Royal Marines to carry out a search for the rumoured ‘Beast of Exmoor’ after an increase in the number of livestock killed in mysterious circumstances.

Dogs should be kept on leads around livestock and a dog doesn’t have to physically attack a sheep to cause damage. Worrying and stressing a sheep can cause it to die of shock, abort a pregnancy or run into harms way. It is legal for a livestock owner to shoot a dog that is worrying or attacking their animals.

Anyone who thinks they have seen a big cat on the prowl in the area can call us on 01548 856353; email editorial@southhams-today. co.uk; or contract us via our social media pages.