ALMOST 1,000 people have signed a petition calling for average speed cameras to be installed on a Hampshire road where four ponies were killed in an accident.

The horrific collision occurred on the B3078 Brook to Godshill route - one of the worst roads in the New Forest for animal accidents.

Police are taking no action against the driver, who was complying with the 40mph speed limit.

But the crash followed two other accidents on the same road in which two sheep and three donkeys were killed.

Now members of the New Forest Roads Awareness group have launched an online petition calling for the introduction of average speed cameras.

Spokesperson Gilly Jones said: "The only other option is fencing, which would be ridiculously expensive and would change the shape of the Forest forever.

"We need anyone who lives in the district council area to sign it. We are trying to protect people as much as the animals."

Ms Jones urged drivers to take extra care as soon as they entered the Forest.

She said: "When you cross that cattle grid you will encounter stock. If you drive with that in mind you will make your journey safer.

"The animals have no road sense - they're like toddlers."

The petition is being backed by county and district councillor Edward Heron, whose ward includes the B3078.

Cllr Heron said: "Much work has been done to try to reduce animal casualties but I believe the best way to reduce the risk of accidents such as the one on New Year’s Eve is to introduce average speed cameras."

If the petition is successful cameras could be installed by Hampshire County Council on behalf of the police, with officers issuing penalties to speeding drivers.

Cllr Heron added: "I fully recognise that the police's priority is to reduce human casualties, and they have limited resources, but working together we could find the resources to cut animal losses."

Nigel Matthews, head of recreation at the New Forest National Park Authority, said a detailed feasibility study was needed.

He also cited the "significant costs" associated with installing and operating average speed cameras, adding that the scheme would require the support of Hampshire Constabulary.

A police spokesman said there was no "currently no policing justification or funding opportunity" to support the introduction of average speed cameras at this stage.

Writing on social media Cllr Heron said he "disappointed" by the police response.

He added: "Monitoring showed that nearly half of the vehicles travelling along the B3078 Roger Penny Way were exceeding the speed limit.

"If that isn’t a justification for camera enforcement I don’t know what is."