REPORTS of a loose black panther in Ayrshire yesterday sparked a wave of pranks, parodies and jokes online.

The drama began at 8.45am when Police Scotland received reports of a black panther spotted between the villages of Drongan and Coalhall.

A police helicopter was brought in to help locate the big cat and an animal expert attempted to confirm the creature’s identity.

Residents were advised to be vigilant but many focused on pranks instead. One hoax, started by Robbie Brown on Facebook, tricked some users by using a black cut-out of the looming predator and placing it in various spots in a field.

With officers still searching for the real panther, a parody account was made to taunt local police with playful messages.

“You will never catch me ... I have already moved from this area,” the account wrote, before suggesting its next location could be politically motivated.

“Heard good things about high tea at @TrumpTurnberry but it’s only for ‘Fat Cats’.”

Social media users were quick to point out the dramatic reaction to similar incidents in the past, which made them sceptical of heeding the calls made to the police this morning.

“Bet ye the black panther runnin aboot Drongan is some wee grans black cat that’s been pumped full a roids n let loose,” wrote one user in reaction to the surprising news.

“There is not a black panther roaming around goddamned Scotland,” said another defiant commentator.

Recent box-office hit Black Panther was used for comedic effect, with Photoshopped images and gifs depicting the film’s hero as the mysterious creature loose in Ayrshire.

One Twitter user who was overwhelmed by yesterday’s news posted: “SIR Nick Clegg off to work for Facebook; a black panther spotted in Ayrshire and Jermaine Pennant appears on The Jeremy Kyle Show. Today has been weird.”

Many couldn’t resist the chance to show off their puns, with Radio Clyde tweeting: “#Ayrshire Police say they’re trying to catch the ‘purrpetrator’ after reports of a black panther sighting in #Drongan and #Coalhall this morning.”

Alan Green, who owns an upholstery business which overlooks the fields where the panther sighting was reported, managed to stay calm despite the alarm being raised.

He said: “I’ve not seen it personally but where it’s supposedly been sighted is just out the back of my workshop.

“I’ve seen the police helicopter up and roundabout.

“I’m not unduly concerned. When I first heard about it I thought ‘a black panther here?’ but maybe it could be true.”

The police said in a statement: “Residents in Drongan and Coalhall are being advised by officers to be vigilant after a report has been received of a sighting of what is believed to be a black panther in the fields near to the B730 between the two villages.

A spokeswoman added: “A thorough search of the area was carried out this morning with assistance from the police helicopter.

“However, officers have been unable to trace the animal.”