WILD boar numbers are to be surveyed after the death of a Royal Wootton Bassett man on the M4 after his car collided with one.

James Gray, North Wiltshire MP, wrote to Natural England raising concerns about the increase in wild boar populations following the death of Raymond Green, 47, on January 6.

Mr Gray said: “I am becoming increasingly uneasy about the number of wild boar sighted in and around North Wiltshire, and was so saddened to learn this week of the death of my constituent Raymond Green who was killed in a collision with a wild boar which had somehow strayed on to the M4.

“These animals can wreak havoc on our countryside by digging up graveyards, gardens and grass verges.

"People are increasingly worried that the wild boar population is now out of control and constituents of mine in Box and in nearby Corsham have spotted them recently.

"I myself narrowly missed one recently near Didmarton.”

Today he said: "I was delighted to receive a letter from Andrew Sells, chairman of Natural England, in response to my call for action in which he states that Defra are going to survey the North Wiltshire area to establish wild boar numbers.

“I was pleased to see that Natural England are providing a member of staff especially for this work, and I very much hope that, once the monitoring work is completed, Defra will consider further steps to deal with the growing problem of wild boar in my constituency.”

Mr Sells wrote to Mr Gray saying: "May I say we all shared your shock and sadness at the tragic consequences of the recent accident on the M4.

"As I promised I have looked into Natural England's role in these matters which is to provide advice and guidance to local communities and individual landowners...

"We understand that any wild boar living free in England are the result of escapes from farms or illegal releases and they have no specific protection in the UK beyond prevention of cruel treatment.

"In line with that Natural England does not carry out any formal monitoring of feral wild boar populations.

"Following recent events and the apparent increase in the incidence of wild boar last week including reported sightings of wild boar in and around the area, I understand that Defra and the 'Deer Initiative' are surveying the area to establish wild boar numbers and I am pleased to say that we have provided a member of staff to support that effort...

"I do hope that the evidence provided by the monitoring work which we are assisting in will be useful and I shall ensure that you are kept informed when the survey has been completed."