WARNINGS to motorists to slow down in the New Forest are being issued following news that head-on collisions with deer are leading to insurance claims of more than £21 million each year across the UK.

The figures have been revealed by breakdown service Autonational Rescue and highlight the New Forest as an accident blackspot.

Kevin Penfold, the Forestry Commission's land manager for the New Forest, said: "The road between Lyndhurst and Holmsley is a particularly bad one for accidents involving deer.

"Despite vegetation management, which attempts to keep the animals further away from the roads, we ultimately cannot control wild animals.

"We need drivers to be more aware."

Every year an estimated 75,000 deer are struck by cars in the UK, but Jamie Cordery, the south-east deer liaison officer for the Deer Initiative, said that, despite the high number of deaths, the population of deer in the New Forest is not yet under threat.

"Although the collisions are going to have an impact on the population of deer, it is only going to have a small effect, as deer herds are self-limiting.

"A properly managed deer population can sustain high levels of accidents - but we still need to bring the numbers down."

The New Forest National Park Authority is also calling on people to give animals a wide berth, saying the key message in the New Forest is: drive slowly because there are animals on the road day and night.

Roadside mirrors, warning signs, speed limits and trimmed roadside vegetation to help drivers see the animals before they run out are all measures currently being employed, but Mr Cordery says driver awareness is the key to reducing animal deaths.

"The blanket 40mph limit in the New Forest is there for a reason," he said.

"My advice to drivers is to slow your speed, drive carefully and look out for the tell-tale eye shine lurking in the bushes.

"And remember, if a deer crosses in front of you take care because there are bound to be more right behind it."