REWARDS totalling £1,500 are being offered for information leading to the conviction of a hit-and-run driver who left a pregnant cow writhing in agony.

One of the rewards is being put up by the cow’s owner, who is seeking justice after the animal was badly injured by a BMW that sped off following the accident in the New Forest.

It follows an incident in another part of the Forest in which a pregnant donkey was also killed in a hit-and-run crash.

The cow, six-year-old Blackie, did not die instantly and had to be humanely destroyed by Mike Lovell, one of the New Forest Agisters.

Mr Lovell said: “The cow was still alive when I got there about 10-15 minutes after the collision.

“She was lying in the middle of the road and there was blood everywhere. It was one of the worst accidents I’ve ever been to.”

Blackie was on the Hill Top to Ipers Bridge road on Tuesday night when she was hit by a car thought to have been flouting the 40mph speed limit.

She was owned by New Forest Commoner Len Mansbridge, of Blackfield.

His partner, who did not want to be named, said: “People who drive like that deserve to break their neck. And anyone who leaves an animal writhing in agony is beneath contempt.”

Sue Westwood, clerk to the Verderers, added: “Debris found at the scene indicates that a dark grey BMW was involved.

“A £500 reward is being offered by cow’s owner for information leading to the conviction of the driver. That’s in addition to the reward of up to £1,000 offered under the Verderers’ reward scheme.”

Anyone with information about either incident should call Miss Westwood on 023 8028 2052 or e-mail .