A DONKEY and its unborn foal have died in a hit-and-run accident in the New Forest.

The pregnant animal was left for dead after being hit by a vehicle on the B3079 along the Bramshaw to Landford route.

It suffered a broken hip in the collision and was humanely destroyed.

Now a hunt has been launched to find the driver.

The Verderers of the New Forest offer a £5,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of a motorist involved in a hit-and-run accident.

A Verderers’ spokesman said: “The biggest difficulty we have is how to get the message to drivers that they need to pass animals wide and slow and that 40 mph is the maximum speed limit not necessarily a safe speed, particularly at night.

“Drivers would not pass a toddler on the side of the road without slowing down and without moving over, so why do it to an animal?

“Animals do not have road sense. The problem is of course, everyone is so busy and in such a rush these days.

“I am sure many drivers think ‘it won’t happen to me’. Even if drivers don’t care about the animals, they might think about the amount of damage hitting a pony or cow will do to their vehicle.”

The Verderers’ Our Hit and Run Reward Scheme pays up to £5,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the successful prosecution of a driver who fails to report having an accident with a Forest pony, cow, donkey, pig or sheep.