COUNTRYSIDE rangers have been warned to be on the alert after big cat sightings in a park in Scotland's largest city.

Two separate reports of a "panther-type" animal were logged over 48 hours by Glasgow City Council officials for the municipal golf course at Linn Park, which borders Muirend, Netherlee, Croftfoot and Castlemilk.

The first sighting was last Thursday, the other on Saturday. Since then, a motorist has told police a big black cat walked in front of his car in Barrhead early on Tuesday morning.

Officers described the man as a credible witness, but found no trace of the animal - said to be the size of an alsation, but closer to the ground, with a metre-long tail.

Last year, there were dozens of large cat sightings in Renfrewshire, and the theory now is that one beast has crossed into Glasgow's south side.

Linn Park covers some 203 acres, contains deer and rabbits, has woodland and river walks, an 18-hole golf course, equestrian centre, and children's playgrounds.

Denis O'Donnell, the area manager, confirmed yesterday that staff have been told to be on alert, especially when out alone early in the morning to place f lags on greens.

He said, of the prospect of a Castlemilk panther: "Two members of the public came up with the same unusual story at different times. It would be wrong not to take their reports seriously.

"Staff have been advised to be on the lookout - for their own safety, and in the hope they could corroborate sightings."

One golfer was said to have seen "a big cat, a big black panther" close to a rubbish bin near the parkland course's tenth hole, but initially chose to remain silent in case of ridicule.

However, after a sleepless night he reported the sighting to a park supervisor. A second golfer later made a similar report to staff.

Scottish big cat hunters armed with infra-red cameras and surveillance equipment spent five days and nights in search of the animal around the Dalrymple area in Ayrshire last year. They had hoped to look around Paisley, but there was too much public interest.

Fran Lockhart, the Big Cat Trust's sightings co-ordinator, last night said she was not surprised by the reports.

She said: "In their natural countries, big cats will frequent suburbs and raid bins.

"They have big territories, and probably move on rather than stay in the same spot too long."

Ms Lockhart added: "Sightings are becoming more frequent, perhaps because people are becoming more outspoken about what they have seen.

"It would be fantastic to get a picture, but people should be cautious and not approach what is a wild animal."