Talk of the dam being occupied by a "strange creature" started to circulate three years ago, when a report was made that a crocodile had been dumped in the deep waters.

Since then, there have been countless sightings of the "creature from the depths", with some local newspapers calling the mystery the "Cyprus Loch Ness".

One citizen was so adamant he had spotted the creature that he told a newspaper iI watched this serpent with my own two eyes, this was no mistake.

Despite the speculation, no proof has yet been found and even the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Affairs have drawn a blank on the Kouris mystery.

An official from the ministry confirmed that they were actively searching for the creature, adding fuel to the rumours that the lake was home to some kind of serpent.

Reports suggest that officials will try and coax the beast from the murky depths by using bait such as live hens and raw meat.

In recent days rain has hampered the search effort, which is expected to resume tomorrow.

A local community leader, Savvas Sava, told a daily newspaper yesterday that if the creature is caught then it will become a tourist attraction and facilities to house it must be constructed.

Source: Famagusta Gazette 28.OCT.08