New Forest animal deaths: Warning after five hit-and-runs

Campaigners said the number of hit-and-run incidents was "so disappointing"

A spate of hit-and-run crashes involving livestock in the New Forest has represented the worst week's death toll in two years, campaigners said.

Three sheep, a piglet and a foal were killed in the national park during the week of 25 September.

The New Forest Roads Awareness group said the drivers involved all failed to stop.

It said calls for motorists to report crashes involving animals were "not getting through".

It detailed the incidents, which included two sheep killed at Wittensford shortly before midnight on 27 September and a piglet killed at Cadnam Green during the day of 29 September.

Hampshire Constabulary confirmed it was called to both incidents and no arrests had been made.

The forest's traditional pannage season means pigs are currently turned out on to open forest land to forage for acorns.

'Worst week'

New Forest Roads Awareness said it was "so disappointed" at the number of hit-and-run incidents.

"This is the worst week of accident data in two years. Our messages about reporting road traffic accidents with New Forest livestock have not got through to people," the group said.

It warned motorists that driving off and not reporting a crash was illegal and any information leading to the conviction of a driver could lead to a £5,000 reward under the Verderers Reward Scheme.

In July, the group urged authorities to change the criteria needed to install average speed cameras on the roads in the forest.

Hampshire County Council said a New Forest road, Roger Penny Way, did not meet government criteria for speed cameras, which it said "emphasise... human injury".

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