A LANDSCAPE gardener is warning walkers and youngsters in Fishtoft to be wary of a poisonous plant growing wild in the area.

Martin Shaw was strimming at Finn Forest in Fishtoft when he came across an outcrop of giant hogweed.

Landscape gardener Martin Shaw, standing in a patch of giant hogweed in Fishtoft, has warned others to steer clear of the photo-toxic plant.

The plant is photo-toxic – meaning if the sap gets onto skin it reacts with the sun and causes great discomfort and if it gets into the eyes it can cause permanent blindness.

He said: "I was strimming so I had protective gear on, except on my arms.

"Then a few days later red blotches started to appear on my skin which, after a few days, became bigger and more painful.

"It got to stage that I was struggling to bend my arm and had to have a couple of days off."

There is a large amount of giant hogweed on the footpath between Fogarty's yard and Finnforest and Mr Shaw wants people to give it a wide berth. He added: "I have children and I would feel terrible if I read about just one case of this happening."

The giant hogweed can grow up to nine to ten feet tall and is distinguished by a stout, dark reddish-purple stem and spotted leaf stalks that are hollow and produce sturdy bristles.

It is not an indigenous plant, brought to this country by Victorian tourists as an ornamental piece.

But it soon spread and can be found all over the UK, especially near water.

Martin's advice is to make sure that if sap gets onto the skin, wash it off thoroughly or seek medical help.

If you find any in your garden, Martin says call in a professional or cut them down, dry them out and spray weed killer over the new growth.