POLICE launching a New Forest road safety campaign clocked one driver travelling at 78mph - almost double the area's speed limit.

The driver on the B3078 Brook to Fordingbridge road, was one of 24 speeders caught in the first hour of the Stay Under 40 campaign launched yesterday.

Another 25 were found to have broken the 40mph limit on the B3054 Lymington to Hatchet Pond road during the same 60 minutes.

Most received a warning from officers or commoners, who pointed out the risks to ponies and cattle by driving too fast.

Others will have to pay a £60 fine and have three points added to their licence.

But the 78mph man will face a court appearance and could end up losing his licence.

The initiative, launched by police, the Verderers, commoners, the Forestry Commission and Hampshire's road safety team, is designed to highlight the annual slaughter of commoners' stock on the area's roads.

Last year 131 animals - ponies, cattle, pigs and donkeys - were injured or died as the result of collisions on the roads.

Sgt Tim Adams of the Safer Streets Team, said: "The vast majority of the people we have spoken to would like to have us out here all the time, as local people are frustrated by the crazy speeds people are doing on our roads."

Commoners' Defence Association chairman Brian Ingram said the majority of people involved in accidents claim the pony ran out in front of them.

But he puts it down to lack of foresight.

"I believe people see the animal but they don't stop to think what that animal will do. Then that animal picks his head up, walks into the road and - bang."

People should reduce their speed when they see animals grazing, he said.

Commoner and New Forest pony expert Dionis Macnair said at night, drivers should halve their speed when they meet an oncoming vehicle with dipped headlights to give themselves a chance of stopping for an animal.

She criticised hit-and-run drivers who illegally leave injured creatures beside the roads.

"You get far too many not reported and that's unforgiveable not to report it," she said.

New Forest Forestry Commission keeper Jonathan Cook said there were 120 collisions involving deer, on forest roads, including one that claimed the life of a driver on the A35 at Hinton before Christmas.

Deer have very brittle bones and have to be humanely put down, if injured in an accident, he said.

PC Elliot Campbell said: "We're getting a lot of positive feedback from members of the public.

"A lot of the people that we stop, when they understand it, are fully in support."