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Police have issued a warning amid reports a black panther is on the loose in Scotland.

The big cat is said to have been spotted at about 8.45am in fields popular with dog walkers in rural east Ayrshire. The public was warned not to approach it.

A police helicopter was used to try and locate the animal on Friday morning and an animal expert has been brought in attempt to confirm its identity.

The sighting was near the B730, close to the villages of Drongan and Coalhall.

Alan Green owns an upholstery business which overlooks the fields where the panther sighting was reported.

He said: "I've not seen it personally but where it's supposedly been sighted is just out the back of my workshop. I've seen the police helicopter up and roundabout."

An Ayrshire Police spokesman said: "Residents in Drongan and Coalhall are being advised by officers to be vigilant after a report has been received of a sighting of what is believed to be a black panther in the fields near to the B730 between the two villages.

"Officers are currently working to locate the animal which may be injured.

"The area is popular with dog walkers so care should be taken and if anyone sees the animal we would ask you not to approach it, but to contact Police via 101 quoting incident number 0780 of Friday 19 October 2018."

A spokeswoman added: "A thorough search of the area was carried out this morning with assistance from the police helicopter.

"However, officers have been unable to trace the animal.

"Officers are currently liaising with a expert in order to confirm the identity of the animal."

Scottish SPCA had been liasing with police but later said it was "unequipped" to deal with a black panther.

Officer Alistair Hill said: "We can confirm we have received reports regarding a possible panther sighting in Ayr.

"We have liaised with Police Scotland and informed them that we are unequipped to deal with such animals and therefore will not be involved in investigating the incident."