A CONCERNED resident is urging Highways England and landowners to clear up a plague of deadly ragwort which is flourishing alongside sections of the A66.

Diane Gordon said the poisonous plant, which is known as ‘yellow peril' and causes irreversible liver damage to horses, is taking over roadside verges ‘virtually all the way along’ the road.

More worryingly, she claims it has now ‘escaped’ over the walls onto the open moorland along the A66.

“On this open land it will be extremely difficult (and expensive) to control - it’s so hard to get rid of as the best way is to pull each plant up by hand," said Mrs Gordon.

“Once it’s there it will take over, stop everything else from growing and make the fells and moors useless to all livestock.”

If ragwort is eaten by horses, ponies or cattle the effects can have serious health implications and can be fatal in some circumstances.

Mrs Gordon, of Grange-in-Borrowdale, said she noticed the ‘ragwort menace’ after travelling between Keswick and Barnard Castle, in County Durham.

“This could be the beginning of a serious problem if public awareness is not increased and everyone encouraged to deal with it on their own land. Who will tackle the open moors I don't know, but someone does need to.

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“We need to have varied native plants on our open land, not a carpet of poisonous ragwort, which then means no sheep or cattle grazing.

“It needs to be tackled pretty immediately – it’s visible now because it’s in flower but soon it will go to seed and be worse than ever next year."

A Highways England spokesperson said it was carrying out work to clear ragwort in the area.

“We have to meet Defra biodiversity standards and only remove it where there is a risk to grazing animals – it depends on each location,” said the spokesman.

Common ragwort is classified as 'injurious' under the Weeds Act 1959. A code of practice released by Defra in 2003 encourages local resolution of ragwort problems by contacting the landowner, before complaining to Natural England.

The NFU issued a reminder to livestock farmers in June to 'remain vigilant' to the risk of ragwort poisoning.