A TERRIFYING attack on a Gravesend man is being used as evidence that predatory big cats roam free in Britain, by the British Big Cat Society.

It launches a nation-wide campaign to persuade the Government to recognise Britain's wild big cats and legislate for their protection, this week.

For many years, sightings of panthers, pumas and lynxes have been reported across the country most recently in Bexley but the authorities refuse to accept the reports.

Society secretary Danny Bamping said: "We think there are between 50 and 100 big cats roaming around Britain. They need to be catalogued and protected for their safety and ours."

The society is hoping Mick Cole's story will put pressure on the Government to recognise the existence of these cats.

Father-of-two Mr Cole, 43, had his hand slashed by a lynx on January 9, this year, in Barr Road, Gravesend, as he parked his car outside his house.

At first, the married optician thought the animal was a fox when he saw it prowling along the side of a garage, with a pet rabbit in its mouth.

He moved towards it waving his hands trying recover the pet.

Thinking it was being attacked, the animal slashed at his outstretched hand leaving him with three long, deep gashes.

However, Mr Cole is convinced the animal only attacked because it felt threatened. He said: "I truly believe it was only defending itself."

It is thought the first wild cats were released from private collections in the 1970s and the cats we see today are their offspring.

If you have seen any big cats in the area, call 01689 885712 or, for more information on the campaign, visit the big cats society's website at www.britishbigcats.com