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Are there bears still loose in Britain? Even though the last wild bear is thought to have died in Britain AD 1000, it has not prevented the creature being spotted in the most unlikely of places.

While out for an evening fishing trip in early November, Michael Kent spotted a large black creature in Epping Forest. While Michael described the animal as resembling a bear, the popular press quickly labelled the creature as a 'Bigfoot'. Woodland officials were quick to announce plausible doubt, saying that the largest woodland animal they have is deer or fox. However, there is no denying that London and the surrounding area does actually appear to attract bears.

Hackney marshes were the scene of a bear hunt during the winter of 1981. Four children out playing in the snow reported seeing a large hairy creature that rose up on its hind legs and snarled at them. Needless to say, they fled and reported the beast to their families. Before long, the area was combed by a police helicopter, marksmen and canine units - 'bear-like' tracks were found, but no other signs or sightings of the creature.


Could an animal this size be hiding in the UK woodland? Image by Bryan Harry, NPS

Glebe Place, Chelsea, is an unlikely place for bears to visit, though it has not prevented the reports from dribbling in. Once a popular site for bear baiting, the ghosts of these poor tortured beasts are still said to remain, and witnesses have reported bears brown, white and black in colour.

The Tower of London, location of many apparitions, also has an Ursidae phantom. A guard protecting the Jewel House (now known as Martin Tower) in January 1816 watched as a huge bear approached him. The soldier panicked and lunged at the creature with his bayonet - the blade passed straight through the creature's fur. Realising the bear was a phantom, the soldier collapsed in shock, and if legend is to be believed, died a few days later after sharing his story with his commanding officer.

Bear-like entities also feature in other paranormal reports throughout Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Along a lane near Woodlawn railway station, County Galway, two people heard a strange moaning on the other side of a wall. One climbed up to have a look, and observed an entity with a man's body and the head of a bear. The creature told the witness 'don't talk to me' before wandering off. A road near the Cornish town of St Blazey (famed for its Eden Project) is haunted by a phantom bear said to sound like a trotting horse, while across the border in Devon, woodland near Kings Nympton was home to a large creature with the body of a bear but with green cat eyes, last seen during 1978.

Dates for the Paranormal Diary this week...

23 November
Pyecombe village (Sussex)
Ghostly cries for help are said to come from the area where the village smith was once based.

29 November
Foulksrath Castle, Kilkenny (Leinster)
A guard at the castle who fell asleep while on duty was thrown from the battlements as punishment. Once a year, his footsteps are heard as he walks around to make amends for his inappropriate actions.

30 November (St Andrew's Day)
Old Church Road, Romford (Essex)
The old church was said to have sunk mysteriously into solid ground, the only 'evidence' of its existence is the yearly ringing of the bells deep beneath the earth.

Article by Darren Mann of www.paranormaldatabase.com