Lindsay Cornish, chief executive of the New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA), has announced that she is to step down from the position after four years with the organisation.

Cornish revealed that "ill-informed and libellous" comments reportedly made about her in an anonymous letter from authority staff members to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) had contributed to the decision, which she said could damage the reputation of NFNPA. Since taking up the role in 2005, Cornish has helped to oversee the establishment of the NFNPA and had been working to deliver the first national park management plan, which was scheduled for completion earlier this year but has been put on hold.

In a statement, NFNPA chair Clive Chatters said: "Over the last four years Lindsay has taken us through that process to establish a stable, well run organisation. Throughout her time with us Lindsay has shown great commitment and dedication to the New Forest, the National Park and the Authority. "It saddens me that some parties have more recently chosen to make personal and offensive comments about her."