THE council have responded to the news of the rapid spread of Britain’s ‘most dangerous’ plant which has been identified across Warrington.

Giant hogweed is an ‘invasive species’ and even just lightly touching the plant’s sap can pose a considerable threat to human health.

The Warrington Guardian reported on Wednesday that in the town, around 24 cases of giant hogweed have been found across Lymm, Woolston, Thelwall, Latchford, Howley, Sankey and Warrington town centre.

The dangerous plant can grow from 12 to 20 feet tall and its appearance includes a thick green stem with patches of purple and white hairs.

It also has thick green leaves that can grow as large as five feet wide and white flowers whose heads can grow as big as two and a half feet in diameter.

A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “It is the landowner's responsibility to control these plants – but please make sure to read about how best to control them, through sources such as the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), as they can cause skin irritation if you come into contact with them.

“If Giant Hogweed is identified on private land, for example a neighbouring property, a construction site or agricultural fields, the land owner should be contacted in the first instance for them to remove the hogweed.

“Where Giant Hogweed is identified on council land, a programme of herbicide treatment is implemented in line with the Environment Agency’s guidance on to eradicate the plant. You can report Giant Hogweed on council land by completing the online form on our website: warrington.gov.uk/grasscutting”