AN amateur photographer believes she has captured an image of the Policies Panther.

The large black feline was stalking the woman as she took snow-scene photographs on the edge of town.

Last week we revealed that local dog-walker Sarah-Kaye Hook spotted the black feline in the woodlands beneath Gala Hill.

Since our report, several readers have been in touch to say that they have also seen the panther-like creature in and around Gala Policies.

And one local lady has even sent us an image she took just before Christmas - less than a mile from where Miss Hook saw the big cat earlier this month.

The woman, who we agreed not to name, was out taking festive photographs around the Policies two days before Christmas.

She told us: “I walked through the Policies, then up the path at the back, with the big wall on the left side leading up onto the road. “I turned around to get a photo of the snowy path. It was then that I noticed it. At first I thought the dark shape was a hole in the wall, or something dumped next to the wall, but couldn’t remember walking past anything. “The whole time the dark thing didn’t move an inch, as I squinted at it through the snow. I decided to use the zoom on my camera to get a better look at it. The zoom on the camera I had then was not the best but it was enough to show me that this was a living animal. “It shifted ever so slightly. I took one photo before I very hastily departed.” Although the blurred image is inconclusive, the Galashiels photographer is convinced it was a large cat. She added: “I’m not suggesting that this is a panther, but if it was a dog, where was its owner? “There was nobody to be seen or heard. I hadn’t even heard it sneaking up behind me on the path. “It made my blood run cold when I saw it silently watching me. “I’m sorry that the photo isn’t the best, but there was no way I was getting any closer to get a better look.” The black cat seen earlier this month by Sarah-Kaye Hook is also described as being roughly the same size as a very large dog.

And there have been many other reportings of big black cats in the area stretching back more than 20 years.

Keen horserider Adi Kay told us: “I have seen one years ago on Gala Hill while out riding.

“We were at bottom of field and it shot across the top and into the woods.” Local councillor Gavin Logan saw a panther-like cat back in 2009 while walking his dog by Caddonfoot Hall.

Innerleithen driving instructor Ian Cross also reported a big cat sighting near his home the same year.

And dog walker Linda Connor observed a large black cat at the Bridgelands outside Selkirk in 2008.

There have also been sightings of large back and brown cats near Ancrum, Melrose and St Boswells in recent years.

Emily la Grange from Tweedbank said: “When I worked at Melrose Youth Hostel back in 2000-ish I saw a big black cat at the bottom of the grounds.

“No-one believed me.”