CAMPAIGNERS are today launching a bid to cut the number of animals killed or injured on New Forest roads on dark winter evenings.

Pony owners are urging drivers to reduce their speed, saying it will the decrease the danger of a collision while adding as little as three minutes to their journey time.

They are anxious to avert a sharp rise in animal accidents when the clocks go back next Sunday.

The Forest often sees a spike in collisions after British summer time ends and commuters find themselves driving home in darker conditions. Nearly 100 New Forest animals were killed or injured last year, with a quarter of the crashes taking place on just four roads in the two months after the clocks went back.

The worst routes for animal accidents are Lymington to Dibden Purlieu, Brockenhurst to Sway, Burley to Picket Post and Cadnam to Godshill.

A spokesman for the National Park Authority said: “People are three times more likely to kill or injure an animal after the clocks go back than before. Animal owners and organisations are appealing to commuters to add three minutes to their journeys and drive slowly for New Forest animals.”

All the ponies, cows and donkeys that graze the Forest are owned by villagers known as commoners, who have the right to turn their animals loose.

People taking part in today’s launch at the Beaulieu Road sales yard include commoners Jo Ivey and Lyndsey Stride, who will describe the impact the deaths of animals have on their owners.

Head agister Jonathan Gerrelli, one of the people called out to animal accidents, will also be there.

Hampshire county councillor Edward Heron, who represents the Forest, will display one of the temporary new signs that will urge drivers to take extra care in the dark.

It comes just days after the launch of a campaign aimed at cutting the number of hit-and-run accidents in the district.

The Official Verderer, Lord Manners, and Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Michael Lane, have joined forces in a bid to prevent badly-injured animals being left to suffer.

They will work with police and insurance companies in an attempt to ensure that hot-and-run drivers are identified and prosecuted.

Mr Lane said: “The majority of accidents occur during the hours of darkness.

“With the clocks going back soon it seems timely to issue a reminder to drivers to take extra care and adjust their speed.”