'Lion' spotted in Essex. Fact or Fiction?

The above picture is apparently that of the said Lion that has been reported to  have been in or near St Osyth, reported badly in my!

      Is there or was there a Lion in essex? In my opinion, no. While i am a major supportive of the 'Big Cat' phenomenon and firmly believe in the existence of big cats in the wild in the UK i cannot think that a Lion would have gone un-noticed in the area.

     Firstly the Circus that was in the area has stated they have not kept lions for years and Colchester zoo stated their animals were all accounted for.

     However, the possibility of a Lynx or similar could be very true. Listening to witness accounts on the news and taking into account the distances from the animal, a smaller cat is highly probable.

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The above photo is a still from the video footage obtained by Sky News from eye-witnesses. Assuming the camera owner was zooming in the animal must have been quite a distance away.

      They then stated that the animal ran off when a farmer, who i assume was closer, came into the field.

     I myself am torn, but verging on the side that this was not a Lion incident.  The first picture has not been released by the UK press as i understand so i think this maybe a still from the footage shot in Ohio, USA.

    The second is, in my opinion, inconclusive. 

    I think my hope in all this is that it may give the public, or those who have an active sense to find related topics, the chance to look into this kind of event and realise that this is not a new occurrence.

    Remember!  Out there in the wilds of the UK big cats are roaming free!