THE legend of the mysterious Durham puma is to come under renewed scrutiny in a new television programme.

The Tyne Tees documentary will delve into the growing number of sightings of a strange cat-like creature in remote areas of County Durham and Teesside.

Producer Georgina Kiedrowski got the idea for the programme after she became one of the dozens of people across the North-East who claim to have seen a big cat.

"I was driving south on the A1 and just before the Darlington exit, I saw a large black animal in the distance, on the grassy bank next to the road.

"At first I didn't know what it was and, to be honest, was worried about the animal wandering onto the carriageway and causing an accident.

"As I got closer and closer to it, I was sure what I was looking at was a big, black cat."

Ms Kiedrowski had a stills camera in the car and looked for somewhere to pull over safely to photograph the creature.

But as she got alongside it, it disappeared over the embankment

"As ridiculous as I felt, I called Darlington police. I have to admit that I was quite astonished when the policewoman I spoke to said that I shouldn't worry that I was going mad because people had phoned in many times before with similar stories."

The documentary, called In Search of The Durham Puma, features a number of eyewitness accounts, including Durham-based photographer Philip Nixon.

Mr Nixon's picture of what he says is a large cat carrying a dead rabbit in its mouth was first published in The Northern Echo.

Last summer, Jack Smurthwhaite and his two young walking companions - 11-year-old Liam Claughan and his eight-year-old sister, Emily - believe they saw a large black cat and its cub near their home in Elwick, near Hartlepool.

Durham Police wildlife liason officer Sergeant Eddie Bell, has been involved in the investigations into most of the sightings in the North-East.

He is convinced that not one, but numerous big cats are roaming the North-East.

The programme also features Northern Echo news editor Nigel Burton, who has covered stories of the big cat sightings for many years.

* In Search of The Durham Puma can be seen on ITV, on Tuesday March 15, at 7.30pm.

Published: 07/02/2005