Beast of Dartmoor mystery solved

The mystery of a phantom black prowler has been resolved. Its a giant Newfoundland pet dog called Troy.

London, Aug.4 : The mystery of a phantom black prowler has been resolved. It's a giant Newfoundland pet dog called Troy.

Pictures of the prowler roaming over Hound Tor past a group of climbers had baffled animal experts.

But 12-stone Troy's owner Lucinda Reid recognised her loveable two-year-old dog straight away.

"It made me laugh so much when I saw the photo in the paper. It certainly looks like Troy and we're always up on Dartmoor, The Mirror quoted her, as saying.

Lucinda, who has a five-year-old daughter Summer, said other sightings of beasts going back decades could also have been Newfoundlands.

But falconer Martin Whitley, who took the picture, is not convinced he snapped Troy because the pet is pure black and the animal in his shot had patches of gray.

He said: "I'm certain it wasn't a dog. I believe it was some sort of cat."

ANI