But Doreen, and her cocker spaniel Shadow, didn't see just one beast they saw a family of three creatures stalking around near the council refuse tip off Bexhill Road.

While she stood open mouthed and watched the unidentified animals slink away, her dog stood rooted to the spot, hackles up ands tail between her legs.

Doreen, 45, said: "That's how I know it was something very odd because Shadow chases cats. She isn't scared of any normal cats and she was terrified by these things.

"I thought, 'Oh my God' they'll have her if she chases them. But she didn't. She just stood there quiet and watched them walk off into the woods."

Doreen, of Kenilworth Road, estimated the big cats to be the size of a large Labrador dog. They were jet black with very long, straight tails.

"When I saw the first one I was a bit shocked then when the second one walked through the bushes I was gobsmacked. The third one was lying in the undergrowth and just got up and crept away.

"We didn't hang about. We went straight back to the car and went home," she added.

Wildlife expert Trevor Weeks poured cold water on the Beast of St Leonards sighting. He said that in almost every case there is a rational explanation for what people see.

Mr Weeks, who runs the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service, said: "I have investigated a number of these sightings over the years and they have all turned out to be false.

"That is not to say there are not big cats out there - a farmer caught a Lynx on the Isle of Wight not so long ago. If you do come across an animal such as this my advice would be to back slowly away. If the animal has not seen you stand still and it will go about its business and not bother you."