A DRIVER left a horse to die after hitting it with their car in the New Forest.

Police said a blue Ford was heading towards Godshill near Fordingbridge at 11.45am yesterday (September 23) when it hit an 18-year-old Shetland Cross called Truffles.

They said the driver veered onto the opposite side of the road and then drove through bushes before continuing in direction of Fordingbridge, leaving the animal to die despite the law requiring people to report the incident.

The car had animal hair under the nearside wheel arch and its headlight was also broken, the debris of which was recovered by police.

READ MORE: Wiltshire Council branded ‘uncaring’ as Stonehenge byway closure blocked disabled access

READ MORE: Bid to make stables ‘threatened with closure’ near Salisbury an Asset of Community Value

“All New Forest cattle, ponies pigs sheep and donkeys are owned by commoners and are property and if involved in collisions need to reported so that incidents can be investigated and animals dealt with humanely to avoid suffering,” a spokesperson for New Forest Police said.

They said this is the second fatal animal collision on the Roger Penny Way in the last 24 hours.

Anyone who can help with their enquiries is asked to contact Fordingbridge Police on 101 using reference 44250431080.

Click here for more crime news from your Salisbury & Avon Gazette.