The Highways Agency is to spend £450,000 on making one of Hampshire’s busiest dual carriageways safer.

The agency is planning to replace fencing beside the A31 after a spate of incidents involving ponies escaping from roadside enclosures between Cadnam and Ringwood.

The three-phase scheme is due to start next month, with work being done at night to reduce disruption to traffic.

It comes a year after motorcyclist Daniel Robins, 31, from Bourn-emouth, was killed in a collision with a pony.

The New Forest Verderers have had to deal with several incidents involving livestock straying into the A31.

Sue Westwood, clerk to the Verderers said: “Nine times out of ten we manage to get the animals back without anyone being hurt but there have been accidents in the past.

“We’re very hopeful that this work will represent a considerable improvement.”

Official Verderer, Dominic May, said the scheme included the westbound carriageway between Junction 1 at Cadnam and the Mogshade Underpass.

Work would also be carried out on the eastbound carriageway between Mogshade and a point 300 metres west of Stoney Cross.

“This is the next step towards the whole of the A31 fencing eventually being constructed of post and rail rather than the present post and wire,” added Mr May.

“In addition, vegetation clearance is to take place on the westbound carriageway.

“This will help with inspections of the fencing and therefore improve safety on the road. A reduction of gorse and other coarse herbage will reduce the risk of fire.”