Warning after toxic plant washes up on beaches
Millom CoastguardA potentially lethal plant root has been found on beaches, prompting a warning from the coastguard.
Millom Coastguard said hemlock water dropwort roots, also known as "dead man's fingers", had washed up on beaches near Drigg and Parton in Cumbria.
The coastguard said the plant - which has a highly poisonous root that resembles a parsnip - had "highly likely" been found more due to recent stormy weather.
"We advise people, especially with children and animals, to stay vigilant, avoid this plant and take extra care when visiting the beach," a spokesperson for Millom Coastguard said.
Hemlock water dropwort can prove fatal to humans by attacking the nervous system and causing the body to shut down.
The plant is common in coastal areas and smells like parsley.
Millom Coastguard said it was not responsible for the plant's disposal and it urged people to report sightings to their council and not to touch the plant.
