A LEADING New Forest figure is to serve a second three-year term.

The Prime Minister's Office has announced that the Official Verderer, Oliver Cros-thwaite Eyre whose current term of office ends on April 30, will continue in the job until 2008.

Mr Crosthwaite Eyre, of Bramshaw, heads a nine-strong team that represents the interests of the commoners whose pony and cattle graze the Forest. The verderers also have the power to block certain schemes put forward by the Forestry Commission.

The commission's top officer in the Forest, Deputy Surveyor Mike Seddon, said: "Mr Crosthwaite Eyre has helped forge an excellent working relationship between the verderers and the commission.

"I'm delighted that he will be continuing in his post to play a part in the changes."