GUARDIANS of the New Forest have hit out at an "appalling" 15 per cent increase in animal accidents.

The Verderers welcomed the new Stay Under Forty campaign, which aims to persuade drivers to obey the 40mph speed limit that exists on all unfenced roads in the Forest.

The campaign was launched this month when police set speed traps on two roads with high animal accident rates.

As reported in the Daily Echo, one of the 91 motorists stopped by officers was travelling at 78mph - almost twice the limit.

Electronic speed indicators, which tell people to slow down if they are driving at more than 40mph, are also being deployed across the area.

Official Verderer Oliver Crosthwaite Eyre said: "The evidence seems to suggest that these devices are having an effect.

"However, there are still too many accidents that could have been avoided if the speed limit had been observed.

"Last year there were 15 per cent more accidents involving the killing and maiming of Forest animals and we must do all we can to reverse this appalling trend."

Mr Crosthwaite Eyre praised the Stay Under Forty campaign but claimed that more needed to be done.

"It's not enough just to observe the speed limit," he said. "We must strive to educate drivers and help them realise that animals don't have any road sense."

Mr Crosthwaite Eyre was addressing the Court of Verderers, which heard that 18 animals had been killed or injured this year so far.

One of the residents who addressed the court was retired teacher Rosemary Bennett, of Station Road, Sway, who called for the introduction of special lessons in Forest schools.

"It's often said that motorists need to be educated on how to drive past free-ranging animals," said Mrs Bennett.

"The best time to teach the common sense needed is while people are still children.

"Schools should include some simple instructions in the National Curriculum so that when children become drivers they behave more carefully when passing animals."