And he should know what he saw – Carn Standing is a sculptor who specialises in making life-size models of animals, and is currently sculpting two huge lions at his home at Ordens Cottage.

He told the "Journal" he spotted the Beast of Banff, a wild black cat-like creature, seen several times over the past few months, in a field at the back of his garden three years ago, and believes it was the genuine article.

For his sculpting, he carries out in-depth studies of the animals he creates in clay, and has also seen footage of wild cats skirting urban areas in the UK. With his expert eye, he says he knows the difference between a domestic moggy and a wild beast.

He spotted the puma-like creature beyond his rear garden wall when he was walking his dog.

His description of the cat fits that of several sightings of the beast reported to the 'Banffshire Journal' since the start of the year. The location of his home at Boyndie is in close proximity to the other sightings.

When he saw it he shone a yellow spotlight he was carrying with him into the cornfield and saw the reflection of the cat's eyes. He said: "It was probably about 11.30pm at night. I went out the back of my garden; there's a wall, an old Portacabin which I use as a shed, and a cornfield.

"When I went out to the back garden I looked over the wall and it was in the field. It came across the field and I watched it run through the corn, and it just disappeared. I could see the tail and I could see its body. It had a small head. It was more like a puma in shape and was a bit taller than a fox.

"That was three years ago at the end of the summer, just before the corn was cut. I've studied cats and I know different types. I do know what I saw was a cat. The head and the tail were definite giveaways; its eyes were actually reflecting from the torch."

Animal sculptor Carn Standing knows the difference between a lion and the Beast of Banff – and thinks he has seen it.

There have been a number of sightings that match Mr Standing's in the past few months, all in the same general area, west of Banff.

At Hogmanay, Mike Smith, a holiday visitor to the town, who was out for an afternoon stroll, saw a creature in broad daylight above Banff Links.

Richard Empson, of 3 Distillery Cottages, Inverboyndie, saw the animal just before mid-day, outside his home, on January 29. He said it was only 50 to 60 feet away from him. It hopped over a neighbour's fence and disappeared into the old distillery.

Darren Thomas, of Seafield Street, saw the cat as he was driving his friends home from the Seafield nightclub in the early hours of Sunday, January 28. The cat crossed the road heading west between Whitehills cemetery and the village.

Kevin Ewing of Banff revealed he saw the beast when he was just 16, nine years ago, after seeing an appeal in the "Banffshire Journal", earlier this year, for those who had encountered the creature to come forward. His sighting was actually in Banff, on Tannery Street, near the western edge of the town.

So far the creature, described as about three feet high and six feet long has teased those who saw it, giving them only a brief glimpse of its long tail and black coat before slinking into the undergrowth.

Mr Standing's description is of an animal slightly smaller than previous ones.

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