SIX New Forest commoners have appeared in Southampton Magistrates' Court accused of not paying marking fees to the Verderers for the privilege of allowing their stock to graze on the open Forest.

The six all pleaded "Not guilty".

They are: Colin John Barnes, 59, of Penn Marsh, Penn Common, Bramshaw; Peter Robert Burgess, 47, of Swallowfields, Blackhills, Furzley; Andrew John Young, 48, of Swallowfields Cottage, Furzley; Austin Walter Young, 82, of The Firs, Furzley; Roland Bessant, 55, from Coppice of Linwood, Fritham and John Kilford, 58, of Moorlands Farm, Rossiters Lane, Bartley.

Another three commoners were due to appear but made their excuses on health grounds.

District Judge Mrs Gillian Babbington-Browne adjourned the cases against Malcolm Horsburgh of Hill View Farm, Blissford Hill, Blissford, Fordingbridge and James Penny and his father Thomas Penny who live at Biddlecombe Farm, Cadnam Lane, Cadnam Green, until the afternoon of Thursday, December 12.

The issues, in what is being seen as a unique case, centre on whether marking fees should be paid by commoners who put their cattle out on National Trust land in the New Forest.

The Verderers currently charge £20 for each pony, donkey or cow put out to graze on Crown lands with reductions for the "added areas" - the National Trust land such as Penn Common, Plaitford Common and Hale Purlieu.

Marking fees refer to the way ponies tails are trimmed after they have been rounded up, to indicate the areas they normally graze.

The fees go to the Verderers to help pay for the Agisters who supervise the welfare of the animals. They take care of the stock when they are sick or injured in road accidents.

The case is being brought by the Verderers under the New Forest Act.

Verderers' prosecuting solicitor Sarah Bell handed copies of the 1877 New Forest Act and the 1999 New Forest bylaws to Mrs Babbington-Browne. Andrew Young, Austin Young and Peter Burgess are all members of the Northern Commoners' Association. They are said to have not paid their marking fees for cattle and horses, as does Colin Barnes.

They or their representatives will next appear before District Judge Mrs Babbington-Browne for a pre-trial review on the morning of Monday, January 13.

Roland Bessant is accused of not paying the marking fees for ponies. John Kilford is accused of making no payment for one pony. They are both listed for pre-trial review on March 6. Roland Bessant's case is set to go ahead on Wednesday, March 19 and John Kilford's on Friday, April 11.