REPORTS of mystery big cats seen across the West Country poured in at Merrily Harpur's book launch at the Dorset County Show.

As I reported last week, Merrily's

, focuses on the mystery in her home county, statistically the best place in Britain to spot one of the fantastic felines.

At the show, she and naturalist Jonathan McGowan were amazed to hear of more than 40 new sightings.

Jonathan, from Bournemouth, who staged a big cat exhibition at the book launch and has another at the Bournemouth Natural Science Society open days this weekend, said: "People were queuing up to tell us what they had seen."

And Merrily, of Cattistock, near Dorchester, said: "I've got almost enough material now for a second book!"

Indeed, a follow-up is on the cards, perhaps to cover the entire West Country.

"It just goes to show that the sightings I have in the book, and there are 223 of them, are only the tip of the iceberg," said Merrily. "It really is an extraordionary phenomenon, and I was absolutely thrilled and delighted to hear people's first-hand accounts.

"No one had expected to see one of these creatures, no one ever does; it's always a surprise. People are shocked and amazed, as they are thrilled usually, and feel quite privileged to have spotted one."

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