A HORSEOWNER fears a poisonous weed growing on the verges of Bolton's roads could kill her two animals if it is not torn up.

Ann Burns is concerned that seeds from the dangerous ragwort weed are spreading to her field on Blackburn Road, in Astley Bridge.

The 61-year-old keeps two horses in the field and is worried one of them will accidentally eat it.

Doing so can cause liver failure since ragwort is poisonous to all livestock and humans.

Mrs Burns said: "It's driving me potty because there's so much of it but when I spoke to the Council they just told me it wasn't on their land so they couldn't act.

"The seeds take root in my field. I'm worried one of my horses will eat some and become very ill or die."

The plant is listed as an injurious weed under the Weeds Act 1959 which means any reports of it growing and proving to be a hazard must result in its removal.

Ragwort are the tall yellow flowers which cover verges and waste ground during the summer. The British Horse Society is already campaigning for its removal. A spokesman said: "The real danger of the current spread is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep hay fields free of ragwort.

"Ragwort in hay is particularly dangerous because horses are more likely to eat it."

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: "If any presence of ragwort is reported to us and we believe it is causing a problem then we will act on it."

But the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs told the Evening News: "Clearance notices can only be issued under the Weeds Act of 1959 if the ragwort affects agricultural land. It appears in this instance that it does not."