Fears raised on pony road deaths

The road is becoming a death trap for moorland animals

A Devon horse welfare group fears the death toll on a notorious stretch of road across Dartmoor could be the worst ever this year.

In the past four months eight ponies have been killed or had to be put down after accidents on the B3212 between Princetown and Yelverton.

The figures come from the South West Equine Protection Society.

The charity is calling on drivers to slow down on the stretch involved, saying they are travelling too fast.

That is in spite of signs warning them to slow down. "Speed is the main issue," said Maureen Rolls from the charity, which is currently looking after a foal whose mother was killed after a crash.

"People have been driving at motorway speeds instead of Dartmoor speeds," she added.

The road crosses open moorland with no fencing or cattle grids to separate traffic and animals.