A study is getting underway into the potential effectiveness of using average speed cameras to help reduce animal deaths in the New Forest.

The BBC reports that Hampshire County Council is to look into the technical, legal and environmental issues of installing cameras on the B3078 Roger Penny Way.

More than 50,000 people signed a petition calling for cameras to be installed in the national park.

Animal owner Sarah Weston started the petition after her four year old pony was run over and killed in the forest.

In her post on change.org she explained how her four year old New Forest Pony, Juma, who was living semi-feral in the New Forest died in a car crash last month after suffering two broken legs, smashed teeth internal injuries.

She says analysis of mobile phones has revealed that some drivers are deliberately speeding across the open Forest which has a speed limit of 40mph at speeds up to 75 mph throughout the day and the night.

(Picture – Jenoptik)