ENVIRONMENTAL chiefs will discuss how to tackle a green layer of duckweed which has covered part of Sankey Canal.

Last year, visitors to Sankey Valley Park were warned to take care after a mat of green weed grew on some of the canal.

A section was covered in a plant named azolla, which is not native to Britain.

The weed can grow quickly in warm weather and although it is not poisonous, azolla can block out sun light to plants in the canal and reduce the levels of oxygen in the water.

However, the council has confirmed it is not the same issues this time around.

A spokesman said: "This is duckweed – a native plant to the UK which does not cause the same level of deoxygenation as the azolla.

"We are meeting with the Environment Agency to discuss the canal and this will be on the agenda."