A Rockwell Green resident has raised concerns over a foreign species of weed which can damage concrete structures which is spreading in Rockwell Green.

Japanese Knotweed has sprung up around the site of the village's historic water towers, and has spread into at least one resident's garden.

In January the local authorities intervened to remove overgrown vegetation from the towers.

It is thought the Knotweed was allowed to grow undisturbed, hidden by the overgrowth. The weed can grow as high as 3 metres from the ground, and can exploit weaknesses in concrete and mortar to break through walls.

Rockwell Green resident, Trevor Morgan found the invasive plant sprouting in his nearby garden. He said: "I had a couple of seedlings appear and wondered where they'd come from. I poisoned them.

"I used a standard weed killer from the garden centre but it had to contain glyphosate, it seems to kill the damn stuff. I recognised them straight away, I'm not bad at botany.

"The seeds could spread all around the area. You couldn't see the Japanese Knotweed before the council cleared the site because the brambles were up to eight to ten feet high.

"Japanese Knotweed is dreadful stuff, it'll break up concrete, it's a pest. It's not an easy beast to get rid of."

Typically the plant has to be removed by excavation or via a herbicidal treatment. Failure to remove the plants can lead to the infestation maturing, which can take years to successfully remove.

The Somerset Council has been contacted for comment.