STUNNING images of the New Forest have gone on show to the public to mark its new status as a fully-fledged National Park.

Award-winning photographer Sally Fear, of Tile Barn Farm, Brockenhurst, has spent the past seven years compiling a unique portrait of life in the Forest.

Her exhibition highlights the vital role played by Commoners - the people who own the 7,000 animals that graze the area.

Experts say that the Forest would become an impenetrable jungle within a year if it were not for the ponies, cows and donkeys that keep the vegetation at bay.

The Forest still has about 500 practising Commoners but numbers are dwindling, partly because of sky-high property prices.

Described as a visual testimony to commoning, the exhibition is being held in a large marquee at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.

Many of the photographs on show until September 3 capture the action and excitement of the annual round-ups, known as drifts.

They also illustrate the work of the five Agisters who supervise the day-to-day welfare of the animals.

The exhibition opened on Saturday to coincide with the 22-member New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) gaining its full powers and responsibilities.

Guests at the launch included NPA chairman Ted Johnson and former head Agister Brian Ingram, now chairman of the New Forest Commoners' Defence Association.

Mr Ingram said: "Commoning plays a great part in the protection of the Forest. It's also our livelihood and we hope it will continue."

Opening the exhibition, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu said: "It will give joy to people and educate them about what goes on in the Forest."