CONCERNED parents are calling on Bury Council to ban the usage of a weed killer linked to cancer.

The group gathered in St Mary’s Park in Prestwich at the weekend to protest against the use of glyphosate herbicides in parks and playgrounds across the borough.

This week, a jury in the US ordered agribusiness giant Monsanto to pay more than $2 billion to a couple claiming the company’s popular weed killer, Roundup, caused their cancers.

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the World Health Organisation’s cancer agency, concluded that glyphosate was “probably carcinogenic to humans”. However, several other international agencies continue to declare it as safe, and many scientific studies have found no association with cancer.

Despite the conflicting evidence, Roundup has already been banned by some local authorities across the country, and protesters are calling on Bury to follow suit.

Rachel Getliffe took part in the protest, and said: “It is really worrying that the council continues to spray this dangerous chemical around children’s parks. We were talking to parents and none of them knew what it was, never mind the dangers.

“Kids always put things in their mouths, so they could be ingesting this. It is a threat to public health and kills not only us but our beautiful wildlife too.

“There are alternatives available and we demand Bury Council put an immediate stop to this.”

The campaign has also received the backing of the Friends of St Mary’s Park and Incredible Edible’s Ramsbottom and Prestwich groups.

An online petition has been set up at www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=10483.

Cllr Alan Quinn, Bury Council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “We are aware of the recent concerns expressed over the use of glyphosate to control weeds, and we take all matters relating to public health seriously.

“I will be bringing a report to the next meeting of the council’s cabinet which will call for an in-depth look at all aspects of glyphosate and future policy towards its use.”