A campaign to protect ponies wandering the moors of Devon has seen a victory - with new speed warnings set to tell drivers when to slow down.

The Western Morning News had championed the cause of the wild animals, which are regularly killed on the road.

It's Take Moor Care initiative has secured the introduction of the new signs, which will flash up the speed of drivers breaking the 40mph limit and warn them to slow down.

The only protection the ponies currently receive is advisory signs on the side of park rangers' vehicles.

But the new scheme will be run in conjunction with the local highways authority and county police force.

The Take Moor Care campaign was launched in 1999 with a stark front page photo showing a mare pawing at the lifeless body of her foal, which has been knocked down in the road.

It brought home the message that reckless speeding was costing the animals their lives - and a debate on how to improve matters was launched.

Some people felt speeding was the main problem, while others worried that people stopping to feed the ponies were encouraging them into danger at the roadside. Signs asking people not to feed them are also now in place.

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