A BABY jenny that starred in a road safety campaign has been killed by a car.

The three-month-old donkey, Jo-Jo was taken to Brockenhurst College to take part in its Drivesafe event, to raise awareness about the risks of hitting animals while driving in the New Forest.

But just 12 weeks later, the little snow white donkey became the latest casualty after being struck by a vehicle.

Adding to the heartbreak, the foal's mother Doll is said to be mourning the loss of Jo-Jo and had to be “chased away” from the scene where she was killed.

Jo-Jo was six months old and was well known among residents of Brockenhurst after she was born in the middle of the road.

The car that killed her was being driven in a 30mph zone.

Her owner Robert Byford, who runs a farm at nearby Tile Barn Lane, said: “We were devastated. She belonged to our two-year-old grandson and was his first animal.”

Now a petition has been set up calling for a reduction in the speed limit.

Aide Callaghan and Fiona MacDuff, from Sway, set up the petition are calling on MP Desmond Swayne to help reduce the local speed limit from 40mph to 30mph.

Miss Callaghan, whose dog was hit and killed by a car on a New Forest track last year, said forest roads were “not being policed enough.”

She said: “Animals might not come so high on some people's agendas, but it's not going to be long before it's a child.”

In 2013, there were 182 collisions involving livestock in the national park, resulting in 72 animal deaths. Since October, a Hampshire Constabulary speed enforcement officer has been assigned to help cut the number of animals killed on the roads of the New Forest.

Graham Ferris, chairman of the Commoners' Defence Association (CDA), organised Jo-Jo's appearance at Brockenhurst College in September.

He said: “We did it because we wanted to get the biggest possible crowd at the CDA stand, which stressed the importance of driving appropriately along unfenced roads as there is livestock around day and night.”

A Hampshire Constabulary spokeswoman described Jo-Jo as a “local celebrity”.

She said the foal's death had been a “tragic accident”, which was reported to the police but added its investigations found no offence had been committed.

The force said it was working with partnership agencies to support animal accident reduction initiatives.