URGENT action must be taken to tackle a highly toxic plant which can cause horrific burns and even blindness, warns a Bury angler who has campaigned for years to stop its spread.

Four teenagers sustained severe burns and sores after coming into contact with giant hogweed in Moses Gate Country Park, in Bolton, last week and Eric Owen claims it is only a matter of time before the same happens in Bury.

The plant leaves long-lasting scars on humans and can cause blindness if coming into contact with the eyes. Planting or allowing it to grow in the wild is illegal in Britain under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Giant hogweed grows along many areas of the River Irwell from Bury to Manchester, and has previously been reported near St Peter’s Primary, in Whitefield Road, and numerous sites in Radcliffe.

Mr Owen, of Keswick Drive, said: “I and other anglers have been going on for years over this plant and it has been allowed to grow.

“The Irwell Rivers Trust and Environment Agency have done lots in the past but budget cuts are having a big effect in fighting the invasive species, which is now resulting in people getting hurt.

“It has to be tackled as a whole area, from its source to where it ends. It is a massive task and one that has to be taken on.

“We would like the Government to fund the spraying of this plant before more people get hurt, which will happen unfortunately if nothing is done.”

The Little Britain Anglers group, of which Mr Owen is chairman, is setting up a Facebook petition to appeal for more to be done to stop the plant’s spread.

He added: “The biggest problem is just how large of an area this plant has grown and the only way we see of getting control of giant hogweed is to fund fishing clubs to train any members that would take the task to spray the plant with help from other agencies.

“We at Little Britain Anglers are working on this at the moment and have asked the Irwell Rivers Trust and others to help us, but the laws need changing so private land or any land has to have any invasive plants treated, as a lot of private land does not have action taken.

“To do nothing would be a big mistake. Over the last 18 months, our members have been trying to get action on this and on fly tipping with very little funding but lots of hard work.

“We have shown what can be done and improved our stretch of river and its habitat with good results.

“The only way forward is to get the Government to help, by means of funding to all who are trying to deal with this problem, before more are badly hurt.”