 The Environment Agency is worried the weed could reach the Tamar |
A river is under threat from a foreign water weed which chokes native plants, a pollution watchdog has warned. Experts at the Environment Agency said floating pennywort, has been found at Davidstow in the north of the Cornwall.
The weed can grow up to five inches a day and forms dense mats which smother native plants and cause flooding.
The Environment Agency will remove and destroy the weed on Monday to prevent any further spread downstream.
The infestation at Davidstow is on the headwaters of the River Inny and threatens the Tamar river system. Agency experts believe the weed only appeared at Davidstow this summer but it has already occupied an area the size of a tennis court.
Another outbreak of the weed caused extensive damage to a number of important wetland habitats, including Exminster Marshes in Devon, earlier in the year.
After it removes the weed, agency ecologists will then survey the area to check for further outbreaks.
Trevor Renals from the Environment Agency said: "This infestation must have originated locally and we are keen to find the source.
"If anyone thinks they have floating pennywort in their stream or pond, please contact us so that we can advise on how to destroy it.
"This weed could cause havoc if it became established in a river system such as the Tamar. Once the weed is established, it is very hard to be rid of it and it can cost tens of thousands of pounds to control.
"We are very fortunate that our routine monitoring discovered this infestation before any winter flows have a chance to carry it downstream."
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This weed could cause havoc if it became established in a river system 
