I REFER to your article on page three of the May 18 edition of the Bucks Free Press, 'experts confirm tracks of a puma' and 'members of the public are being asked to contact the police or the animal specialist Mr Trevor Smith if they sight the dangerous cat.'

I decided that, on balance, I wouldn't write to you about my experiences.

What has changed my mind was your follow-up article on page 12 of the edition of May 25.

Intrepid reporter James Cox, with his juvenile photo, has reduced the presence of a wild cat in the area to something of a joke.

No wonder the police treated my sighting of a large black panther type cat last year to the delusions of a short-sighted, time-wasting middleaged woman.

Crossing the field beside our house last summer was a very large black cat.

I saw it from the kitchen window at a distance of about 50 yards.

I rang the police and was passed from one disbelieving officer to another.

After some two hours a young constable arrived professing great surprise that he hadn't seen the animal in question.

Did he really think it was going to sit in the sun waiting for someone in authority to arrive?

I have seen with my own eyes a large black cat, as have many people in this area.

I believe the accounts of the people who have seen it.

Why must the Bucks Free Press make this into a spoof April Fool?

All right, the deaths so far reported have been wild animals and domestic cats.

But will intrepid reporter James Cox still be wearing his safari outfit and stupid expression to match when the reports of golfers, dog walkers, other members of the public or young children having been attacked, are made known?

I personally feel that your irresponsible belittling of the sightings of this animal are hardly likely to encourage the public or the police to take this matter seriously.

Mrs Jennifer Holmes

Cryers Hill, High Wycombe