ONE of the most bashful creatures in Britain - the muntjac deer - is thought to have been spotted by residents near Eagley Mills in Bolton.

The deer which was introduced into the country from China at the turn of the century is rarely seen in the north of England.

But Glenys Jowett of School Street, Eagley, is convinced that she and several of her neighbours saw one of the creatures on Sunday afternoon.

She spotted the deer while eating her lunch and when she went out to investigate, five other people saw the dark tanned animal, about the size of a large dog.

Mrs Jowett, whose husband is a conservationist and shooting enthusiast, said she could identify the deer from photographs in the Shooting Times.

She told the BEN: "I contacted the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and they said they thought it was the furthest north one has been seen.

"I thought it was a dog but when I got outside and saw it, I could tell it was a deer. It was there for about fifteen minutes before it went into the bramble."

Pete Liptrott from the Natural History Department said the species is abundant in southern parts of the country but it appears to be spreading northwards. The most recent possible sighting of a muntjac was an unconfirmed report north of Belmont in 1995.

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