Owners of donkey Pollyanna offer reward following hit-and-run on Roger Penny Way

THE family of a children’s show donkey killed in a hit-and-run near Bramshaw have offered a £1,000 reward for help to track down the driver.

The incident involving “much-loved” donkey Pollyanna happened on the notorious B3078 Roger Penny Way at Crows Nest.

She was found at 8am on 18th December but Gilly Jones, a practising commoner and spokesperson for campaign group New Forest Roads Awareness, told the A&T the collision may have happened some time the night before.

She said the owners of Pollyanna had been prompted to offer the additional reward after losing “a lot” of livestock to accidents.

The money is a reward for information leading to the successful conviction of drivers responsible, on top of the £5,000 regularly put up by the verderers after hit-and-runs.

Ms Jones added: “It was their children’s showing donkey – she was a much loved part of their livestock so they decided to try and boost the appeal.”

“People need to remember animals roam day and night. We need to remind people that the livestock have the right of way and drivers should drive to the conditions.

“The speed limit is 40mph but at night 30mph can be too fast.”

She said debris left near to the scene indicated the vehicle involved could be a Volkswagen and urged anyone who knew of a damaged vehicle to report it.

She confirmed a number plate found near the incident was not connected to this crash and was from a separate incident involving a deer that had been previously reported.

Ms Jones said for the last 10 years she has been helping to distribute fact cards detailing which authority to call depending on which animal is involved.

“We need to get the message across that accidents must be reported – so many people do not know what to do if they have an accident,” she said.

The cards are also available from New Forest District Council offices.

Anyone with information on the hit-and-run is asked to contact the police online or by calling 101.

Information can also be given anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or the verderers on 023 8028 2052.