A BIG black cat has been spotted prowling the fields of mid Essex - but is it the Beast of Billericay?.

Photographed by student Marek Cerny, the creature has been spotted twice in three weeks in the West Hanningfield area.

And Essex Police has confirmed it is investigating the sightings.

A spokesman said: “ I can confirm that we are investigating sightings of a large cat at West Hanningfield in August and again on September 5.

“The photograph taken in August has been sent to an independent big cat monitoring group which said the animal could be a big cat or a large domestic cat.

He continued: “Although there have been numerous sightings of large cat like animals in the past in Essex, no genuine big cats have been captured or found dead.

“However we keep an open mind about such animals and we continue to investigate the sightings.”

Marek, who has had his photographs published in a national newspaper, claims they are of a puma first seen on August 14.

He said he saw the animal again on Friday September 5 The Essex Police spokesman said there was a website - wildlife@essex.pnn.police.uk - where people can send photographs if they see such animals.

Also they can contact the wildlife crime co-ordinator PC Andy Long on 0300 333 4444.