A big cat expert who joined police searching for a large animal does not believe it is a black panther.

Officers warned earlier on Friday that a black panther was thought to be roaming near the villages of Drongan and Coalhall in Ayrshire, near the B730 road.

A helicopter was involved with the search and the Scottish SPCA also took part, but later stood down as they were "unequipped" to deal with the search.

Police have now said that the animal is not a black panther as previously thought.

They said: "Officers who have been investigating reports of a large black cat in fields near to the B730 have been liaising with a big cat expert who does not believe that it is a black panther, however cannot yet confirm what type of animal it is."

It is understood that the big cat expert has made the decision after seeing images taken by members of the public.

Black panthers are not a distinct species of cat but an umbrella term for any big cat with with a black coat, caused by a specific gene most commonly found in leopards and jaguars.

The animals are native to Asia, Africa and the Americas and are classed as endangered.

Generally nocturnal and solitary, black panthers are said to be quiet and cautious but have been known to be aggressive.

Between 2010 and 2015, 455 big cat sightings were logged by police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including several suspected panthers, while Police in Scotland received 140 reports in the five years to 2014.