Stunned Devon beachgoers did a double take when they spotted a rather unusual sight in the water. While there have been regular sightings of "big cats" across the county it is rare for them to be so publicly on view.
But a closer look revealed the animal in the shallows of Exmouth beach was in fact a driftwood sculpture. The lifelike creation is the work of Brendan Rawlings who has made a name for himself across the area with his clever artwork.
The full-size panther, named Resilience, is the latest sculpture by Brendan, of Zen Wood Design, to appear on the beach. Others have included a 12ft Neptune/ Poseidon wooden sculpture, an imposing 6ft crouching male angel with wings and a child angel called Faith modelled on his daughter, Kitty.
