THE remains of what might be a big cat have been found in a pond.

The skeleton of the big toothed creature was spotted in Par. It was sighted by a woman who reported seeing what she believed to be the remains of a small crocodile.

The pond is known locally for reports of a creature taking a toll on ducks and other wildlife with a string of sightings purporting to be a large predator. Last year the Environment Agency cleared the pond using electric prods to zap invasive predatory fish like pike in a bid to clear up the mystery.

Photographer Paul Williams retrieved the skeleton for examination. He said it quickly became apparent that the remains were not those of a crocodile or a fish but of a sharp-toothed carnivore and possibly that of a young big cat.

Vet Fiona Rawlings concluded it didn't belong to the domestic cat or dog family or that of a fox. She confirmed that it was that of a meat-eating predator and would require detailed dental pathology to determine its identity.