I am furious with the conservators of Epping Forest (the City of London Corporation).

On September 3, just before 8am, I was leaving for work when my husband telephoned asking me to report an injured deer which he had seen while driving along the Epping High Road from Harlow, 200 yards before the traffic lights at the entrance to Epping, to the conservators.

I was put through to the out-of-hours call centre in Leatherhead and reported it, giving them my work telephone number in Epping so they could telephone me if necessary.

The next day, at about 7.45am, my husband telephoned me again informing me that the deer was still there in the same position, its head showing above the vegetation.

I phoned the RSPCA and the conservators’ call centre and said it must have been there for over 24 hours, perhaps even a lot longer.

At about 9.15am I telephoned the conservators, as I now knew the office in Loughton would be open, and spoke to a lady.

She said there were only two rangers and one was in a meeting, but she would give the other ranger a call. A few minutes afterwards, I received a call from a young lady at the RSPCA who said she had just come off the M11 and was driving through the High Street in Epping.

The next call I received was from my husband at about 10.50am, informing me the deer had to be put to sleep as it had two broken legs.

He told me the RSPCA officer had telephoned him several times until she had found this deer.

I am just thankful she was so persistent.

The lady at the conservators said the ranger had been unable to find the deer.

He should have been as persistent as the RSPCA officer was.

I love to see the forest land as I drive through it every day and I thought the conservators were there to maintain the trees and look after the wildlife that inhabits the forest, but I think they let that poor deer down.

At least the deer had been put out of its misery or else it would have been getting weaker and then be a target for foxes to attack it.

When I reported the deer to the RSPCA, I gave a small donation and I think the conservators should also give a small donation because really that young RSPCA officer did what should have been done by the ranger.

Lesley Carter, Dunmow.