INVESTIGATORS will look to prove the existence of big cats prowling the region’s countryside at a conference next month.

Investigators from around the UK and Ireland are meeting in Middlesbrough to try to unravel the mystery surrounding many unexplained sightings.

The greatest number of reports received by the Big Cats in Britain (BCIB) group come from the North of England, said conference organiser Mark Fraser.

“The subject of whether or not big cats exist in Britain is a popular one. Nearly everybody knows someone who claims to have seen one of our mysterious felines,” he said.

“It is hoped by these gatherings we can get nearer to the truth and obtain hard evidence of these animals.

“We want to find out if big black panther-like cats, lynx, pumas, really do exist here.”

The BCIB group is holding its third annual conference at the Marton Country Club, in Middlesbrough, over the weekend of March 21 and 22.

Sergeant Eddie Bell, wildlife liaison officer at Durham police, will present results of his 22 years of research.

He said: “I think there are wild-born animals out there, enough to maintain a local population.

“We have had very good sightings from people who should know, like biologists, and also other evidence such as a footprint identified as a puma near Barnard Castle.”

Four years ago he investigated a spate of wild cat sightings, including a puma savaging a full-grown deer.

The creature – believed to be the legendary Durham Puma – had been reported prowling a remote area of east Durham.

The sightings were taken seriously as they coincided with the mysterious death of a deer.

Ian Bond, North-East ecologist of the Northumbrian Mammal Group, said Tynedale was the main focus, with sightings reaching double figures over the past two years.

“But there is also a good cluster of sightings near Whitby and the Trimdon Panther has been sighted again north of Hartlepool recently,”

he said.

“I have no doubt whatsoever that there are some big cats out there, possibly of two or three different species.

“Some of the sightings have been made by excellent naturalists who are unlikely to have got it wrong.”

The BCIB group is appealing for people to contact it with information about sightings, video footage and photographs.

Tickets costing £25 for the weekend or £15 each day are available by calling Mark Fraser on 07766-416211.

For more information, visit the Big Cats in Britain website at bigcatsinbritain.org