WALKERS and cyclists will be given advance warning of pony round-ups in the New Forest in a bid to prevent a serious accident.

It follows several incidents last year in which residents and visitors to the Forest were caught up in the round-ups, which can involve more than 200 ponies galloping at 35mph.

A Brockenhurst couple were confronted by about 100 animals that were “running amok” near the village.

In a letter to the parish council the pair said they were forced to jump into a river to avoid the stampede.

They also complained that the ponies surrounded two cyclists, one of whom was knocked against a barrier and had to be airlifted to SouthamptonGeneral Hospital.

The issue was subsequently raised at a meeting of the Verderers, the organisation in charge of Forest stock.

The Official Verderer, Dominic May, described a “potentially serious” incident involving a group of children who emerged from an inclosure just as ponies were being driven through.

About 40 round-ups, known as drifts, take place each year between August and November.

Ponies are herded into holding pens, where the Agisters check their condition as well as fitting them with special collars that reflect car headlights, making the animals more visible at night.

On the day a round-up is due to take place, warning signs are distributed in the area.

Now the Verderers have vowed to give advance notice of each event in a bid to make sure that walkers and cyclists stay away.

Staff at the Verderers' office in Lyndhurst will publish a weekly list of round-ups due to be held over the following few days.

The first three drifts will take place at Withybeds near Minstead on August 13, Bratley near the A31 on August 16, and Durhill near Burley on August 18.