Toxic weed which can blind people and leave permanent scars thriving in lockdown

A weed which can cause blindness and permanent scarring and has been dubbed Britain's most dangerous plant is thriving in lockdown.

Giant Hogweed is flourishing across the UK as the warm weather causes a spike in the 'toxic' flora, which can tower 23ft tall, and cause horrific third-degree burns, ulcers and even blindness.

The vicious weed's harmful sap can have devastating effects if it comes into contact with human skin, causing painful burns and blisters, and life-changing scars.

The sap strips your skin of its UV coating so when light hits the area it causes skin to blister, and can leave people scarred and cause problems to the affected area for years.

The recent hot weather has created ideal conditions for hogweed to grow across Britain, with lockdown making it increasingly difficult to keep under control.

A map published by PlantTrackers shows the plant's existence in the UK is on the rise - especially across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Somerset and other rural counties.

A River Trust expert said: "It is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most dangerous plant in Britain."

Restrictions have left staff at Complete Weed Control, which tackles giant hogweed across the UK, unable to treat the dangerous plant.

Director of the company's Scottish operation, Keith Gallacher said many hogweed plants are already flowering, weeks earlier than usual.

Mr Gallacher, 33, said: "Hogweed is thriving in the lockdown.

"The weather has been a big factor, we are seeing some plants that are already 1m high because the temperature is ripe for it.

"We have been having very mild winters the last few years.

"We are seeing an increase in it now in lockdown because we can't get out to the majority of places so we will see a spike in the number of plants.

"A lot of it is not getting treated because people are cutting back and don't want to spend money on dealing with it just now, and it's not classed as essential work.

"But you don't want the plants to get to seed otherwise it will start repopulating very quickly.

"Each plant can have around 50,000 seeds which can spread extremely fast if not treated and the toxic sap is a hazard.

He added: "There is a very short window of opportunity to treat the plants before they seed in June time.

"Although we can't get out to sites, we still monitor them when we pass by, and some of the areas we have previously treated you can see an increase in growth.

"The sap is very dangerous.

"It strips your skin of UV coating so when light hits the area it causes your skin to blister.

"It can leave people scarred and cause problems for years.

"It's extremely sore, you don't feel it burning your skin when you touch it, but it can stay on your skin for six hours and then you would feel it when the light hits."

Managing Director of the company, Ian Graham, said the picture is similar across the UK.

Mr Graham has owned the business since 2008 and it now operates 45 franchises across the UK.

He said: "The weather has had an impact, with a very wet winter which quickly changed into a hot spring.

"What is happening in Scotland, we will be seeing elsewhere, I think the problem is more pronounced in Scotland as it's unusually warm, sunny and dry.

"But without question, there is activity going on everywhere.

"Hogweed is extremely dangerous, it can cause blindness and severe and permanent scarring.

"It's tall, and a bit odd looking, and grows in places where kids play, so they like to bash around in it.

"There have been a number of cases of kids having been burned after coming into contact with the sap."