WILD animals are being put in peril by a new menace on the roads in Croft and Lymm.

The latest threat to countryside creatures on the town's highways and byways has no wheels but moves at a lightning fast pace to attack horses and sheep.

Outbreaks of ragwort, a rampant yellow weed capable of spreading like wildfire, are being reported besides the M6-M56 interchange at Lymm and M6-M62 link near Croft.

Roadside patrols from the Highways Agency are already on the case as the pesky plants look like engulfing the motorway sliproads and beyond.

The problem is particularly potent in rural areas, says David Bogle, the agency's Cheshire area manager, whose staff are pulling out the weeds by hand rather than employing chemicals sprays near green belt land.

"Each rogue plant not destroyed can produce 150,00 seeds and 70 per cent of them will germinate," said Mr Bogle.

Other parts of the M6, M56, M62 and even the A49 have fallen victim to the brightly-coloured interloper.

"Ragwort is highly toxic to horses, cattle and sheep and by the symptoms show it is too late," added Mr Bogle.

The weed survives because it can adapt to poor soil conditions and lay dormant for 20 years.

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