VERDERERS of the New Forest have increased rewards issued for successful prosecutions in hit-and-run pony deaths 400 per cent following a spate of "nasty" animal deaths.

The announcement that £5,000 will be paid to anyone providing information that leads to a conviction in an animal death caused by a motorist was made on Wednesday.

The payment, which before now was £1,000, will be backdated to any incidents that have already taken place since January 1 this year.

Clerk to the Verderers, Sue Westwood, said the hike was a response to the "particularly nasty accidents" the group had seen over the last few months.

Only a few weeks ago, a foal was shot by an agister after its mother was killed in a collision. The youngster had been orphaned after a motorist claimed the life of its mother, killed on the B3054 Lymington to Beaulieu Road. Its owner decided the foal would not survive without its mother and the decision was made to shoot it.

"It is always unpleasant - every animal death is - but when someone drives over a Shetland foal and then just leaves it is awful," Mrs Westwood said. "We want people to let us know if they have had an accident."

The decision to increase the reward was made after a commoner - fed up with the number of hit-and-runs across the Forest - suggested it to the Verderers. The cash will be funded in part by the Verderers as well as the New Forest Commoners Defence Association, the New Forest Pony and Breeding Cattle Society, and the World Horse Welfare.

Mrs Westwood said that the Verderers' view on leaving animals injured or worse after crashes is "inexcusable" and that motorists should treat such incidents as they would should a pedestrian have been injured.

"I don't understand why people wouldn't call the police," she said. "Why not do the same for an animal? Most people who don't report an accident usually have a good reason to, such as having drunk too much or not having insurance. But it is morally the best thing to do as it promotes animal welfare."

Those who do report such incidents, Mrs Westwood said, usually are not prosecuted but are expected to pay for any loss incurred by the owner as a result of the animal's injury or death.