TWO pensioners have told of their brief encounter with a panther-like animal in remote countryside near Mottisfont.

Patricia Lawrence and June Oram were driving along a minor road between Mottisfont and Bossington when they came face-to-face with the beast.

A deer ran into the road in front of the car.

Expecting more deer to follow, Mrs Lawrence braked. Shortly afterwards the black panther-like creature emerged from a roadside copse.

It stopped short of coming into the road, crouched, turned and then sped off back into the woodland.

"I could not believe what I saw. It was about the size of an Airedale dog, black with a very long tail. It was definitely a big cat chasing the deer. It was going at great speed. It crouched down before it shot back into the woods like an express train. I think it must have been frightened by the car.

"The only way to get this animal is by getting an expert to track it down," said Mrs Lawrence, who has contacted the local farm estate office about the encounter.

"I didn't call the police because a shooting syndicate was due to go out. I didn't want to see the pheasants disturbed," added 70-year-old Mrs Lawrence, who lives at nearby Pittleworth.

Her 69-year-old friend, who comes from Broughton, said: "It was quite weird really because shortly before, Pat was telling me about your big cat story in the paper.

"Pat suddenly looked up and said, 'Oh my God, it's that animal.' It was most definitely a very large black panther-like animal. It was almost in a crouching position at one stage. It had cat-shaped ears.

"I was looking to see where the deer had gone. I paused and when I looked again I saw this big black animal. I am convinced we stopped it from getting its dinner. Pat and June spotted the mystery big cat one afternoon nearly two weeks ago.

Asked what he thought of the sighting, Quentin Rose, one of Britain's leading big cat experts, said: "They are good descriptions and a probable sighting. Had it been a dog chasing the deer it would have carried on across the road.

"I would like to investigate this sighting further. There are 30 areas in Britain with black leopards and 32 areas where pumas are at large. These animals are definitely out there."

Former zoo keeper Mr Rose, who took up tracking big cats in Britain eight years ago, added: "I have collated nine incidents during the last seven years where people have reported close aggressive encounters--some sustaining physical injuries.

"There is clear evidence that big cats are breeding here in Britain. There are definitely leopards and pumas in the New Forest.

"Practically every county in the country has them. They are a threat to Britain's native animals. Another concern is the threat to livestock. These animals don't normally eat sheep. There have only been 10 confirmed attacks on sheep in this country. They usually eat deer, rabbits and badgers."

The expert believes that if nothing is done to stop the animals from breeding, they will pose a threat to humans. "There are about 100 leopards and pumas living in the wild now. In five years' time there will be about 150. I estimate that within 10 to 20 years there will be around 1,500. "This is a going to become a serious problem and people will be killed by the animals," said Mr Rose. He added that big cats were unlikely to attack humans at the moment, unless provoked.

Asked if they were likely to attack dogs, Mr Rose replied: "A puma will normally run from a dog. However, the normal response of a dog is to run away. You have to remember pumas and leopards are extremely powerful animals."

Mr Rose has this advice for anyone who comes across a big cat in the wild.

"Never run or scream at it because this could trigger an attack. Keep eye contact and let the animal move away. "These animals are beautiful, but they don't belong in the British countryside. Conditions here are perfect for them. There is plenty of food and cover. They should be in zoos or their country of origin.

"The most effective way of tracking these animals down is with specially-trained dogs. A marksman can then dart them," added Quentin, who has worked at Windsor Safari Park and the late John Aspinal's Howlett's Zoo in Kent.

Regular sightings of big cats are made in Hampshire. Last Thursday, what is thought to be big cat footprints were discovered in partially dry mud at Mottisfont. There were at least four very large prints measuring just over 4 inches in length. Unlike dog paw marks, there was no sign of nail marks in the mud with the footprints. Although not ruling out the footprints belonging to a big cat, Mr Rose said cats liked to avoid going through mud and water.

This March a deer was found with a gaping hole in its stomach in Mottisfont woodland. The animal's killer had ripped its insides out. Months later, a villager's dogs were spooked during the early hours of one morning. The owner got up to see what had disturbed them and to his surprise spotted a large black cat-like animal making off into the darkness. Other villagers claim they have seen the mystery animal. And also last week, farmers kept night vigils on flocks of sheep at Compton, near Winchester, after livestock was savaged.

Farmers blamed the attacks on a big cat. During November, a Romsey man claimed he saw a similar animal near the Luzborough pub at Whitenap.

Stockbridge police officer Sally Osmond is interested to hear of any sightings in the mid-Test Valley area. "Under no circumstances should anyone approach one of these animals if they see one. People should not try to shoot one either.

"An injured animal is very dangerous," said the police wildlife liaison officer.