THE County Times believes has found accounts of the earliest big cat sighting in Powys – possibly Wales.

Over the decades a host of sightings of so called 'big cats' have been reported across mid Wales and currently witnesses have been reporting sightings in north Wales, ranging from Snowdonia to Flintshire.

However when did these sightings first occur?

A report in the Montgomeryshire County Times on July 22, 1893 accounts for a bizarre occurrence in Abermule when a big cat was not just sighted - but chased through a village pub and shot at by locals.

The events took place in Abermule and the full account is included below.

'A day or two ago, what was believed to be a wild cat of the woods was seen prowl in about the hamlet.

'Two of the crack shots of the place at once gave chase but failed to bring the prey down with the contents of the four barrels of their guns.

'It then bounded right through the Abermule Inn across the road, through the railway station on to the platform and into a passing cattle truck and has not since been seen or heard of.'

What such an animal was is impossible to say but the term 'wild cat of the woods' suggests this had not been an overgrown house cat or stray.

The fact the beast ran through a village pub is also remarkable.

Finally, what happened to the animal? No body was ever found on the railway track. Did the wild cat return to the woods or did it somehow escape on the passing cattle truck?

Whatever the case, this is truly a remarkable account and the earliest big cat newspaper report in Powys - and possibly – Welsh history.