A delivery driver fled in terror after he was confronted by what he believed to be a black panther outside a Benfleet school.

The man was delivering bread to the Appleton School in Croft Road at about 3am yesterday (Thursday) morning when he spotted what he described as a large black animal on the driveway into the school.

He ran back to his cab and drove off without making his delivery while police were called to search the area.

The 40-year-old man from Southend, who declined to be named, said: "It was really dark. All I could see was his eyes staring at me. He was standing on the driveway and I swear he was bigger than a fox.

"It was dark but I had heard growling and screaming just before I got out and I didn't want to go any closer.

"When I heard the screaming I thought animals were being attacked and when I saw this panther-type animal I was a bit shocked."

Police were called in to search the fields and buildings at the school but found nothing. They also returned in daylight but could find no trace of the mysterious animal.

The school's site manager Les Lloyd-Leigh said he believed the animal could have been a fox.

He said: "That explains why there was no bread delivery this morning then.

"I have been here for 11 years and in that time I've seen some really big foxes. There are about four or five that come round here and they are big."

Andrew Groom, supervisor at Hanningfield-based bakers Taylor and Woodland, took the call from the terrified driver.

He said: "He was adamant it was bigger than a fox and said it was black. He told me he was a bit shocked and got back in his cab and just sat there watching the animal staring at him."

PC Peter Moyes, of Rayleigh police, said: "We went to the site to check because it is a school. However we couldn't find anything."

The driver returned to the school in daylight to make his delivery.

Two sightings of a black panther in Benfleet were reported in May 1995 but a beast was never found. Similar panther type creatures were also spotted lurking around Hordon-on-the-Hill, Fobbing and Bulphan in 1983.

Beast? - witnesses have said the animal resembles a panther

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