HISTORIAN Ian Standing, who has pledged to fight to protect the Forest of Dean and maintain its heritage and traditions, is the new verderer.

Mr Standing won on a show of hands in an election held at Gloucester Cathedral on Tuesday. He replaces the late Mr A Melville R Watts and joins Mr Bob Jenkins, Mr Ray Wright and Mr Maurice Bent.

Mr Standing was opposed by the Forest's former deputy surveyor, Mr Rob Guest.

In his campaign address Mr Standing said he believed the Forest faced threats on a scale not seen since the 17th century. Governments had proposed to dispose of public forests three times in the last 30 years.

Promising to be guided by the concerns of the people of the Forest, Mr Standing said: These threats to the wellbeing of our Forest have grown over the last 10 years. If they continue the outlook for the Forest is bleak."

He was a respected member of the Forest of Dean District Council's delegation to the House of Lords where he spoke on behalf of the council in opposition to the sell-off proposals. He was also secretary and a leading member of the HOOF campaign.

The Verderers, meet four times year at The Speech House. They trace their origins back to Norman times when they were established to administer Forest Law.