A MAJOR survey will begin across the New Forest today to discover if ash trees have been infected with a deadly disease sweeping the countries' tree population.

The Forestry Commission has said it will start the research to determine how many of the at-risk trees there are and whether the killer fungus has already taken hold.

In the last week the number of sites nationally found to be infected with ash dieback disease - which threatens to wipe out the ash population - had doubled with 52 locations recording outbreaks.

In Denmark the disease, officially known as Chalara Fraxinea, killed 90% of their ash population.

The fungus has become so widespread that it prompted a plea from environment secretary Owen Patterson who urged the public to wash boots, dogs and even children to halt the spread.

Andy Paige, head keeper for wildlife in the New Forest, said: “We need to find out the extent of the damage, if any, in the New Forest.

“We're going to begin a survey to find out how many ash trees there are and how many could be affected. That's as much as I know.

“At the moment the situation is quite new but it's evolving day by day.”

First reports of the Chalara fraxinea fungus were confirmed after imported ash trees from The Netherlands showed signs in Buckinghamshire.

Since then sites in Leicester, Glasgow and South Yorkshire have all reported outbreaks after they all received saplings from nurseries.