IT'S a jungle out there. "The recently reported sightings of wild animals around York has prompted me to write regarding an experience I had a few months ago," begins a missive from David Robson, of Portisham Place, Strensall.

"I happened to look out of the window around dusk one evening and saw a giraffe in the back garden, contentedly eating the leaves from the top of the apple tree.

"I am convinced it was a giraffe, and not a dog or a large cat, as my neighbours have a cat and it appeared to be a lot bigger than that.

"The episode gave me quite a shock, and I must have fainted, because the next thing I remember was waking up in bed around 7.30 the next morning. I jumped up

and dashed downstairs into the garden, but there was no sign of the giraffe - it had simply vanished into thin air.

"I was going to call the police to see if there had been any reports of missing giraffes in the area, but decided against it in case they didn't believe my

story.

"As the day went on, though, I remembered that I don't have an apple tree in my garden, and I started to wonder if it had all just been a dream.

"Can I get my name in the paper anyway?"

Consider it done, David.

THIS big cat business is serious, mind. Thousands of sightings have been reported across Britain.

And the results of a national 15-month survey, due to be published at the end of this week, should dispel all doubts as to their existence, according to Danny Bamping, founder and media spokesman of the British Big Cats Society.

"If you take half of the sightings to be mistakes, you are still left with thousands of sightings across the country," he said.

The survey will show where in Britain wild cats are on the prowl. Despite the number of sightings, there may not be that many animals on the loose: these cats can cover 15 miles a night.

As all the recent sightings have been within a reasonable radius of York, Danny said that everyone could have seen the same panther-like animal.

So if you do see it, what's his advice?

"The best thing to do is to stay still and observe, and not follow it, and not make any noise."

Being fraidy-cats, they tend to disappear as soon as they are spotted. But the society does have on recent record two "big cat encounters" where people were scratched and bitten after disturbing the animals.

And when one was seen on the Welsh island of Anglesey over the Easter weekend, the police sent up a marksman in a helicopter.

You can't be too careful.

IS York too cool for former Spice Girl Melanie C?

The former Spice Girl is playing at Fibbers in June and, after less than a week, the show is now three quarters sold. But 90 per cent of those tickets have gone out of town, reports the caf-bar boss Tim Hornsby.

"Not just as far away as Suffolk, Wales and Aberdeen but also Spain, Portugal, Germany and... Australia.

"We're not saying you don't support us but, come on York, here's a chance to see a genuinely talented millionairess singer-songwriter and all-round good entertainer.

"On your doorstep; right before your very eyes; with only another 199 people." And remember, that's a more exclusive crowd than have seen the York panther.

Updated: 10:53 Wednesday, April 14, 2004