Toxic giant hogweed capable of causing serious burns if touched has been found across Kent this summer.

Authorities are taking steps to destroy the pest, which can grow to 15ft, and is generally found near rivers.

Contact with the plant causes the skin to blister, forming painful lesions, with the effects continuing for years afterwards.

Giant hogweed has recently been found on a footpath in Allington.

Ward councillor Dan Daley (Lib Dem) made the warning after hearing of the find on the path connecting Howard Drive in Allington to Maidstone Hospital.

He said: “This plant is highly toxic and dangerous if disturbed, touched, or if broken allowing the sap to issue. It can cause the most serious lesions.

“It can be very damaging to the environment. It also causes burns and years after if you have been in contact with it your skin can still react badly to sunshine. It is nasty stuff” - Andrea Griffiths

“Most folk may not notice it, but wherever it is discovered and recognised one should not be tempted to break or kill the plant without specialist knowledge.

“If it is seen please report it to the parks and open spaces department of Maidstone council.”

Giant hogweed was introduced to Britain in the 19th century as an ornamental plant.

Its march is being tackled in this area by Medway Valley Countryside Partnership, which recorded and treated 10,000 plants last year across the Maidstone and Tonbridge and Malling boroughs.

The organisation, part of KCC and funded by Maidstone and Tonbridge and Malling councils, Yalding Parish Council and affected landowners, monitors the number of plants across the area and has the permission of the Environment Agency to treat affected areas.

Partnerships officer Andrea Griffiths said: “We do get an awful lot of reports of it.

“It is on a mammoth scale, but we are seeing good results. We are seeing a great decline because of the work we are doing.”

Each plant gives out 50,000 seeds and can cause riverbank erosion, as well as being toxic to humans.

She added: “It can be very damaging to the environment. It also causes burns and years after if you have been in contact with it your skin can still react badly to sunshine. It is nasty stuff.”

The partnership also deals with other voracious invaders including floating pennywort, Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam.