Two pigs die amid three more hit-and-runs involving livestock around New Forest animal accident black spot route the B3078 Roger Penny Way

TWO pigs died in three more hit-and-run smashes involving New Forest livestock within a week.

The store pigs were both struck by vehicles that did not stop on Wittensford Road, just off major animal accident blackspot route the B3078 Roger Penny Way, near Bramshaw.

Agister Michael Maton found the first one dead during the latter part of Monday 30th September, and the other fatally injured three days later.

Then, around 8.30am last Friday, a calf was struck on the B3080, north of Turf Hill car park, off Roger Penny Way, between Cadnam and Fordingbridge.

Gilly Jones, who chairs campaign group New Forest Roads Awareness, slammed the driver involved.

Posting online, she wrote: “A lady hit a calf, which came up her bonnet. She stopped and watched the calf wobble off, not knowing what its injuries were, and drove off.

“Luckily witnesses have forwarded her information to the police.”

She stressed that even bumping, tapping or winging an animal with a wing mirror was still classed as a hit-and-run.

“If you are too close to livestock and hit them with your vehicle, and you don't report it you have committed an offence,” Gilly added, adding that the pig that died last Thursday was the second lost by the same owners in a week.

These hit-and-runs came weeks after two others reported in the area, one of which left a pony’s blood smeared across the road surface.

As reported in the A&T, the bay mare, named Waterslade Teeny, was struck around 8.30pm on Wednesday 18th September on Roger Penny Way, near Bramshaw.

Gilly said then: “I think that one was probably one of the messiest road surfaces I’ve seen, and I’ve been doing this a long time.

“The New Forest livestock are owned by someone, and having to go and witness your dead animal’s blood all over the road is too much for anyone to take.”

The pony was hit despite having been fitted with two reflective collars by its concerned commoner.

A piglet had also been hit near Parsonage Farm at Bramshaw between midday and 1pm the previous day.

Pigs are currently out in the Forest for Pannage, feeding on acorns, chestnuts and beechmast, which are poisonous to other grazing livestock.

This week, Michael Maton also responded to a cow struck and injured on the B3078 Roundhill at 9am on Sunday.