BANGERS and burgers from the New Forest will be featuring on menus throughout the South if Martyn Evans and Ann Sevier get their way.

They have been employed by New Forest District Council to promote and market Forest Friendly Farming.

And that means getting meat, game, fruit, veg, eggs, jams, juices, honey and even craft products such as hurdles on sale at retail outlets throughout the South.

The stipulation is that to bear the Forest Friendly Farming logo all products must have been grown, bred or created in the locality.

Ann and Martyn are well qualified to take on the task.

She is a New Forest commoner from Blissford, near Fordingbridge and knows only too well how hard it is to make ends meet through livestock production without taking on extra jobs.

As local produce development officer she will be helping fellow commoners and other small producers add value to their goods.

She will be organising training courses about food production and getting people to work together for their mutual benefit. Another aspect of her job will be to promote Forest Friendly Farming produce at events like farmers' markets, shows and ftes.

Local produce co-ordinator Martyn, from Romsey, is looking at the wider picture.

He will be developing a New Forest brand and dispensing invaluable advice on packaging, labelling, logistics, advertising and promotional events.

His aim is to get produce more widely available and encourage more shops, schools, hotels, restaurants and residents to buy them.

The two jobs are being paid for by the district council, the South East England Development Agency and the European Union.