A NATIONAL trade body is issuing a reminder across Fife of the dangers associated with giant hogweed.

Over the years a number of children, as well as adults, have reported injuries after coming into contact with the toxic plant.

Just last month an 11-year-old girl in Fife suffered painful blisters after brushing against the invasive weed.

Dr Peter Fitzsimons, of the Property Care Association's Invasive Weed Control Group, said: “Giant Hogweed’s sap is extremely toxic to the skin in sunlight, making it a danger to public health.

“Youngsters are more likely to come into contact with the plant during the summertime and the mix of warm weather and rain has provided good conditions for the weed to take hold this year.

“Giant Hogweed is also spreading across a wider area, meaning that people are more likely to encounter it.

“If anyone comes into contact with any part of the plant, followed by exposure to sunlight, they can sustain severe blistering to the skin and discomfort, and this reaction can recur for many years.”

Giant Hogweed can produce up to 30,000 to 50,000 seeds, which can survive in the soil for a number of years.

The invasive weed is capable of growing to a height of up to five metres, almost 20 feet.

And if Fife Council don’t deal with giant hogweed, and other plants that can ruin homes or cause flooding, they could face prosecution under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011.

Back in 2017 the Times reported that unwelcome species such as Japanese knotweed had cost the local authority up to £100,000 to remove from just two sites in Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline.

At that time the council described Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) as a "serious problem for native wildlife, our health and our economy” and that giant hogweed was "of particular concern due to its toxicity”.

While there are many non-native plants and animals in Britain and only a handful are classed as invasive, it’s a problem that costs Scotland an estimated £250 million a year.

If they’re not dealt with, they can drive up development costs, cause physical damage to buildings, harm the environment and lead to compensation claims or prosecution.