A HORSE owner is calling for action to rid Middlewich of a deadly weed after the town was named and shamed by a national magazine.

A field at Manor Farm, just outside the town, was dubbed a ragwort hotspot by Horse and Hound magazine after the poisonous plant was found to be rife.

Jane Weir of Yew Tree Close has just fulfilled her lifelong dream of buying a horse and is calling on MAFF (Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) to do something about the problem.

Mrs Weir said: "I have seen the field in question and have never seen so much ragwort growing in one place in my life.

"Since ragwort has been known to be a noxious weed for so long now, I find it incredible that the problem has been allowed to become so great."

Growing numbers of horses and ponies are having to be put down due to ragwort poisoning and it is toxic to humans as well.

Now Mrs Weir has written to Congleton MP Ann Winterton to ask for her support in pressuring MAFF into action.

"The countryside is gradually becoming contaminated by this vile weed," she added.

"The more people who get involved in this debate, the better the chance that MAFF will do something about this growing and all too frequently heart-breaking problem."

Stephen Percival, who owns Manor Farm, said: "The seeds blow on to the field from the motorway, but I have dealt with it now."

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