Pork prize declined as 'prodigal pig' returned to New Forest road safety campaigners

A LIFE-SIZE pig silhouette has run all the way home after being stolen from a New Forest road safety campaign.

Two commoners recovered the sign after discovering it at Ipley, near Beaulieu. Its disappearance had even prompted a reward of pannage pork for information leading to its safe return.

Before the pig-napping it had been on display at Gang Warily in Fawley and – to the delight of its staff – was reinstalled last Friday morning alongside its fellow silhouettes of a pony, cow, donkey and a sheep.

The safe return was welcomed by Tom Hockley, chair of the Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA) as the pig is part of the road safety campaign placing the animals in prominent positions around the district.

He said: “We were very pleased indeed to find the pig still in good condition so that it could re-join the display. Next stop on its winter tour will be Lyndhurst in the next few weeks.”

The CDA responded to the good news of the recovery by tweeting: “The prodigal pig is back.”

https://twitter.com/RealNewForest/status/1088800533773803525

Appeals had been made for locals to have a poke around for the missing porker with the promise of a reward of New Forest pork.

However, the modest finders of the bright pink pig chose not to bring home the bacon after deciding to turn down the prize.

Silhouettes depicting the number of 2017 animal road deaths are being placed in local towns and villages throughout the winter.

They provide an eye-catching reminder of the importance of driving carefully in the New Forest.

They are one part of a broader campaign that includes new temporary warning signs installed by Hampshire County Council on key roads and the police mobile speed camera van, which is out on the Forest day and night.

Recently released figures showed that 63 animals were killed on the roads in 2018, an increase of 13% compared to 2017.