An East Lothian dog owner has taken to social media to warn of the dangers of a toxic plant species that can cause severe burns.
Giant Hogweed, or Heracleum mantegazzianum, contains chemicals that react with light when in contact with skin, causing blistering within 48 hours. It essentially prevents the skin from protecting itself from sunlight, which can lead to very bad sunburn and scarring. The blisters will form within 48 hours and in some cases, scars can last for years.
Writing on Facebook, Jamie McBey shared a picture of his injured cocker spaniel, saying: "Just a little heads up to anyone that walks their dog on the old railway walk in Ormiston my dog's potentially come into contact with hogweed somewhere down there as you can see its pretty nasty stuff."
Earlier this summer, we reported that Giant Hogweed, called 'Britain's most dangerous plant', was found growing up to 10ft tall beside a railway track in Seafield near Leith.
The pictures show the enormous plants had completely taken over a large area next to the disused stretch of track.
Originating from Southern Russia and Georgia, giant hogweeds were introduced to Britain and Europe from the Caucasus Mountains, which stretch between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, in the 19th century.
The plants, which can grow to over three metres tall, typically have thick "bristly" stems that are often "purple-blotched" while their flowers are white and held in clusters.
While local authorities often work to remove infestations of the plant, there is no obligation for landowners to eliminate Giant Hogweed.
With this in mind, people need to look out them as they could be in parks, gardens, allotments, woodland, heathland or 'common land' anywhere in the UK.
