THE youngsters who suffered severe painful skin burns after contact with giant hogweed have my sympathy.

In 1994 it came to my attention that the giant hogweed was flourishing along the banks of the Irwell and its tributaries in Bolton, with many plants growing in Moses Gate Country Park.

I was at that time the medical officer responsible for communicable disease control and environmental medicine for Bolton, so I contacted the Environment Agency and one of their scientists came out to Bolton to meet me. I took him along the river banks at Moses Gate, and he agreed that there was a problem. However, since it is difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate these spectacular plants, he did not seem overly enthusiastic about committing the Agency to a programme to reduce the number of plants and hence the risk to the public.

However, as we stood — on a beautifully hot sunny July day — on the steep river bank and I expressed my concern at the continuing public risk, he stumbled and fell against a particularly luscious and fine example of the hogweed.

The following day, the severe painful burns that resulted from this encounter resulted in his having to go to the casualty department for urgent treatment.

Very shortly afterwards, a comprehensive three-year plan to reduce giant hogweed numbers along Bolton's rivers was announced by the Agency.

Let's hope that there will be continuing efforts to keep these beautiful, though dangerous, plants under control by those on whose land they grow, be it private, council, United Utilities, or others.

By the way, the popular myth that the scientist was helped to come into contact with the hogweed by the medical officer is of dubious validity, but the incident did seem to stimulate action.

Robert Aston

Formerly Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Bolton Health Authority