A CAMPAIGN is being launched in the New Forest in a bid to cut the number of animals killed in accidents.

The New Forest Trust is determined to make the roads safer for the thousands of ponies, cows and donkeys that graze the ancient landscape.

So far this year 25 animals have been killed in collisions, compared 17 in the first six months of 2010.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the death toll includes four ponies that have died in a recent spate of hit-and-run accidents.

Now the Trust is launching a children’s poster competition in a bid to cut the carnage.

Members hope the winning entries will educate drivers and encourage them to take extra care when passing animals on Forest roads.

The 10 best posters will be displayed at the New Forest Show, which takes place at New Park, Brockenhurst, at the end of next month.

Copies will then be exhibited in various businesses across the district in the autumn, when animal accidents tend to increase as a result of the darker evenings.

Ponies and other Forest animals are owned by people known as commoners – villagers with the right to let their livestock roam the area.

Mike Cooper, former chairman of the Commoners’ Defence Association, praised the competition.

He said: “Anything like this is always welcome, especially with the recent hit-and-runs.

“I was involved in something similar a few years ago when I was a member of the New Forest Road Safety Council. It was a good initiative that encouraged children to be creative and imaginative.”

The New Forest Trust is part of the Animal Accident Group, which meets several times a year to discuss the latest statistics.

A trust spokesman said: “Drivers seeing a pony standing at the side of the road should always pass wide and slow but a lot of them don’t – even though these animals have absolutely no road sense.

“The trust is doing everything it can to reduce the casualty statistics and decided to launch a competition involving children.

“They are tomorrow’s motorists and can also use pester power to encourage their parents to slow down.”

The contest is open to all Year 7 and Year 8 pupils in the Forest. The closing date for entries is June 24.