More than 1,000 people fall for Weymouth big cat hoax video

By Emily_P | Friday, April 01, 2011, 20:27

Wessex FM turned joker today with a spoof radio report that a big cat had been spotted prowling the relief road - and was captured on video.

In keeping with jokey traditions to mark 1st April, the Dorchester-based local radio station ran reports on its news bulletins that a schoolboy had spotted the large black panther-like creature as his mum did the school run. The story went that he whipped out his mobile and managed to film it. Wessex FM then posted the footage on YouTube and on its website and invited listeners to watch.

Hilariously, the video has scored more than 1,130 hits as hundreds of people clicked to see the first known footage of a 'Dorset Big Cat'. News reporters also interviewed "experts" who warned listeners to stay away from the dangerous creature. Big cat sightings are legendary in this part of the world, but concrete evidence they exist is hard to come by.

But what do you see when you watch the video? A person dressed in a giant pink panther suit, prowling about on a bridge overlooking the relief road, thenjumping into a Wessex FM bubble car and driving off.

After 12 noon the radio station kept running the reports - but Head of News Maria Greenwood stressed that research showed these sightings only happen on 1st April.

Did you fall for the joke? I did! Happy April Fool's Day! :)

http://www.weymouthpeople.co.uk/groups/animals/1-000-people-fall-Weymouth-big-cat-hoax-video/story-10909336-detail/story.html