FOOTBALL fans are being urged to fly the England flag with care when driving through the New Forest.

The clerk to the Verderers Sue Westwood told the Forest Journal that although most Forest ponies were “sensible” – foals could be startled by the flapping noise of the plastic flags.

And the flags could be potentially lethal if digested by animals grazing on the open Forest.

She said: “If the flags become unattached from the cars and fall in the Forest, not only does it look unsightly but foals are very curious and will go and take a look and have a nibble.

“If any animals digests some of these then it will not do them any good at all. I would urge all drivers to drive slowly through the Forest but even more so if they have flags on their cars.”

The British Horse Society has echoed the Verderers’ view, after a horse bolted having been spooked from the noise of a flag mounted on the bonnet of a passing car.

The rider was hospitalised in southern Cornwall. The horse took flight and fell, narrowly missing a second car.

Sheila Hardy, BHS senior executive of the safety department, said: “The BHS understands fans wishing to show their support for the England team by flying St George’s flags on their vehicles.

“However, we would ask everyone to be aware that horses are likely to be startled by the loud flutter that car window flags generate and to pass any horses they encounter on the road with due care and attention.”

The society is advising drivers with car-mounted flags to slow down even more and give horses a wider berth when overtaking.

And football fans are being asked to fly the flags on the offside of their vehicle to allow more room between the horse and the flag.