THE DRIVER of a van which struck a horse in a hit and run incident in the New Forest the before the second national lockdown has come froward.

Carterstone Confetti, a Forest bred filly, was hit at about 5.40pm by the football green in Minstead, a 30mph zone, on Wednesday November 4.

The driver of a Volkswagen transporter failed to stop or report the accident but has since come froward after a localised campaign for him to do so.

Owner Erika Dovey said: “The filly sustained untreatable wounds; her back foot was ripped off so was put to sleep by the local agister.

“But because it wasn’t reported, the filly was in agony and left to bleed to death.

“My daughter Betty and family are distraught, and this bloodline of ponies can never ever be replaced.”

After finding her horse laid on it side by the road, Erika uploaded a number of Facebook posts about the incident in order to find the culprit.

The posts were shared by thousands of people and on Friday November 6, the driver came forward to police.

Mrs Dovey added: “She was given to my daughter when born as her first Forest run filly, as my dad gave me the mother. Commoning is our heritage and passion.

“I waited 36 hours before making an appeal for the driver to come forward.

“I understand accidents happen but please please report them, so the animal doesn’t suffer.”

Hampshire police said that they are in the early stages of the investigation but that the driver of the VW transporter is cooperating with officers.

A police spokesman said: “The driver of a VW Transporter came forward on Friday November 6 regarding an incident in Minstead on Wednesday evening.

“They say they hit a pony about 5.30pm on Wednesday November 4 in their vehicle.

“They say their van was damaged in the incident and the horse wandered off with a limp.

“It is in the early stages of investigation. The local agister has been informed.

“It was reported to us on Friday. The driver of the van said he had been unsuccessful at getting through before that.”