FEARS of a 'townie takeover' when the New Forest becomes a national park have sparked concerns among the people who own its ponies and cattle.

The New Forest Commoners' Defence Association, which represents the animal owners, made a powerful plea to the verderers, who control the grazing rights, to object to the park designation order.

CDA chairman Richard Manley told the Verderers' Court that there were major worries that a new national park authority would not include many of the people and organisations at present running the forest.

He said: "The principal agencies that are the traditional and acknowledged experts on the area will be denied proper representation.

"We believe the NPA's views will be more reflective of urban interests and it is probable that the verderers' powers and position will be severely curtailed."

His call to the verderers to make a formal objection to the national park designation was quickly followed by calls for support for the park project.

John Thackray, chairman of the New Forest group of the Ramblers' Association, said the national park designation "presents the forest area with opportunities which should be welcomed and seized."

In a letter to the court, New Forest East Labour Party chairman Peter Sopowski urged the verderers to support the national park boundary proposal and the administrative arrangements "without reservation".