MORE than 50,000 people have signed a petition calling for average speed cameras to be installed on roads across the New Forest.

It follows a spate of collisions in which ponies, sheep and donkeys have been killed on the B3078 Roger Penny Way - one of the worst routes for animal accidents.

Speed checks carried out in the past few months have confirmed that many drivers are flouting the 40mph limit that exists on unfenced roads.

The online petition was launched by pony owner Sarah Weston, of Woodgreen, who wants speed cameras to be installed on B routes in the Forest.

Ms Weston has now closed the petition after collecting a "phenomenal" 51,903 signatures in just ten days.

Commenting online she said: "Time is of the essence because ponies and other Forest stock are being killed and injured week in and week out.

"Hopefully this petition will put pressure on the relevant authorities as well as lending support to those which have already indicated they would like to see average speed cameras on our worst roads."

All the free-roaming animals in the area are owned by people called commoners - villagers with the right to let their livestock graze the landscape.

Ms Weston's petition said more than 50 animals were killed in the Forest every year.

It added: "We need the authorities to install average speed cameras along the busiest routes. The authorities maintain that ‘raising awareness’ and ‘education’ are sufficient when clearly they are not."

A similar petition was launched after four ponies were killed on Roger Penny Way in December - the same month in which three donkeys and two sheep died on the same road.

In July Hampshire's new Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, visited the Forest to discuss a range of topics, including calls for average speed cameras.

Speaking after the meeting the leader of the district council, Cllr Edward Heron, said: "Donna expressed concern about the number of casualties and recognition of the need to find new ways to work together to further reduce the number of animal injuries and deaths.

"She reiterated that the reduction in human casualties will always be the top priority for the police.

"However, she undertook to consult with her team and senior police officers and provide a response to our request for ‘in-principle’ support as soon as possible."