THE Beast of Bucks has reared its head once more, to the delight of two commuters on their way home from a hard day at work.

Richard Skipp, 59, spotted the creature at Bledlow Ridge while going back to Loudwater, from his work in Thame. He was travelling in a car with his colleague, Mick Asby, and both men got a shock when they saw the big cat.

Mr Skipp, of Clearbrook Close, Loudwater, said: "It was a puma-like creature. It wasn't panicked by us, it just went through the hedge and slinked through. We saw it and then said wow' at exactly the same time. We were very excited. You see all sorts of other creatures on that route, like deers or foxes, but this was definitely a big cat. The picture I found afterward is exactly like it - I showed it to Mick and he agreed."

The sighting took place just before 5pm on Thursday, August 2.

The car was travelling through the built up area of Bledlow Ridge and was approaching the hill dropping into West Wycombe.

Mr Skipp is an interested wildlife spotter, but he has not had any more glimpses since. He said: "We haven't seen it since. I'm always looking, all the time, now. I just wish I'd had my camera."

At first he was worried that the story would be disbelieved, and was also worried that the creature could be hunted. But he soon found out that this was just the latest sighting of the mysterious beast said to roam around the Wycombe area.

He said: "I talked to a few other people socially, and they have said they have heard there are cats prowling around the area. Initially I thought people would think we were talking rubbish, but it wasn't like we were on our way back from a party or anything. I have no doubt at all that is was a puma - I'm 100 per cent sure."

In May 2001 animal experts confirmed that a large cat spotted at Wycombe Heights golf course was a young puma, after taking a cast of the animal's paw.

Two weeks later a half eaten deer was found off Gomm Road, and there have been a number of reported big cat sightings ever since.