THE Coopers' cattle herd has been synonymous with Minstead life for decades.

The well-known family of New Forest Commoners continues to this day to honour a tradition passed down from their ancestors.

But now the family has been left with a bill for thousands of pounds after a court ruled the cows have been illegally grazing for all that time.

Anthony - known as Bob - and Annie Cooper, from Acres Down Farm, have kept cattle on Minstead Manor for more than 40 years. Nothing separates the manor from open New Forest land so cattle sometimes stray.

The Verderers of the New Forest took the family to court as they have never paid "marking" fees to graze animals on the Forest.

The Coopers and their daughter, Caroline Van Der Pauw, 32, were found guilty of not paying after a one-day trial at New Forest Magistrates' Court.

Mr Cooper, a 69-year-old retired solicitor who represented his family in court, argued that age-old laws make them exempt from the fees.

He said: "Minstead Manor is known as the area without regard for the Forest. While we are right in the middle of the Forest, we are not subject to Forest governmental rule through the Verderers' court. Minstead has been left out, through accident or negligence perhaps."

He referred to a document from before 1670 in which commoner Richard Compton was given the right by the King to graze animals at Minstead and the adjacent Forest without paying anything.

Mrs Cooper, 64, who is also Minstead Parish Council's chairman, said: "We had not been asked to pay marking fees for years, until now. Forest animals come into Minstead Manor to graze and sometimes Minstead Manor animals go into the Forest - it's a fair situation."

But Charles Parry, prosecuting, said by-laws order commoners to pay the £20 per animal per year fees. Their animals are then marked - for example, ponies' tails are cut - to show payment has been made.

Mr and Mrs Cooper admitted allowing 68 cattle to graze at Minstead Manor in 2006 after their animals were spotted outside the manor on several occasions.

The court heard they should have paid £1,360 in marking fees for this.

Mr Parry said: "Once animals in Minstead Manor stray into the Forest, marking fees should be paid." He said New Forest Acts of 1877 and 1879 gave the Verderers the right to levy the fees.

District Judge Anne Arnold ruled that the family should pay the fees.

She said: "Parliament has, by virtue of the New Forest Act, clearly given the Verderers authority to levy marking fees."

Mr and Mrs Cooper were each ordered to pay a £200 fine, £680 in compensation and £2,500 towards costs. Mrs Van Der Pauw was given a six-month conditional discharge.

Outside the court, Mr Cooper told the Daily Echo he plans to appeal.

He said: "The Crown gave us the right to graze our animals freely so we shall appeal."