A DOG walker from Cinderford says she has been driven away from her favourite walks because of terrifying boar encounters.

Pauline Partridge walks her two 'well trained' dogs in Abbotswood three times a day.

She said: "We were walking through the trees on a path leading to a main ride when I saw three boars with their young.

"Straight away I told my dogs to go back, which they did very quietly.

"I stood a few seconds thinking about which way to go."

She decided to follow her dogs away from the scene. "I just wanted to get away from the area, because they frighten me, not just for me, but for my dogs."

She started walking away from the boar, but a quick look back showed her that two adult boars were running towards her.

"I turned to hurry away but I knew I couldn't – so I turned to face them with a stick, waved my arms and shouted 'go, go!' and thank God they did.

"I was so shocked, frightened and shaking from my head to my toes – even my insides seemed to be shaking."

Pauline says she used to walk her dogs in woods the other side of Ruspidge, but was scared from that area by the boar too.

"My dogs are good. They enjoy their walks without tearing around and barking madly, but it seems the boar have more rights.

"I do respect and love to see wildlife in the woods. I'm a spiritual person and when I go out into the Forest's that's my church – it's God's work.

"What I don't enjoy is the wildlife running towards me and frightening me so badly."

Forestry Commission spokeswoman Heather Lilley said: "The rangers are monitoring the situation closely and we are keeping an eye on the calls from the public about boar sightings and aggressive behaviour.

"At the moment we are moving the boar on into less populated areas of the Forest using different feeding stations.

"If you know an area has had boar sightings, you should avoid it for the time being. If you see a boar, particularly with young, put your dogs on the lead and back away from them."

To report sightings of aggressive boar contact the Forestry Commission on 01594 833057.