ANIMALS living in "appalling" conditions in the New Forest are having to be slaughtered at the rate of 100 a day.

Now furious commoners are threatening to turn their animals out unless the current restrictions are relaxed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Pigs and cattle were removed from the Forest several weeks ago as a precaution against foot-and-mouth disease.

The animals have been forced to live on smallholdings - many of which have turned into quagmires.

Yesterday commoners met government vet Gareth Jones, who pledged to brief his superiors and try to get the rules changed.

Richard Manley, chairman of the Commoners' Defence Association, said today: "We're losing animals at the rate of 100 a day.

"It's a desperate situation which needs sorting out in days rather than weeks.

"If things go on as they are we could lose 75 per cent our of stock because they're living in such appalling conditions."

Cattle are being culled under the welfare-to-slaughter scheme, which allows animals living in unacceptable conditions to be taken away and killed.

Mr Manley said: "Many of our animals are in dire straits.

"If the situation isn't resolved soon commoners may have to break the law and turn their stock out, even if it means risking a £5,000 fine.

"We are being pushed into a corner.

"I can't believe commoners haven't turned their animals out already. They have acted in an incredibly responsible fashion by exercising so much restraint."

Official Verderer Maldwin Drummond added: "It's a desperate situation."