Rising slug numbers threaten crops

Slugs are the bane of gardeners' lives in summer

British farmers are warning that next year's cereal crops could be threatened by a rise in the slug population.

Wet weather during the last three years and a drop in the use of agricultural chemicals are thought to be partly responsible.

The molluscs bury themselves deep in the ground during dry weather but thrive in warm, wet conditions similar to those recently experienced in the UK.

The snails are the bane of gardeners' lives with their voracious appetite for plants and flowers.

However, wildlife experts say the increase in the slug population may in fact be a good sign, showing that more environmentally friendly farming methods are working and this is encouraging biodiversity.

Alternative "weapons" to poisonous slug pellets include eggshells and saucers of beer, in which the creatures drown.

Over time, experts say, the population of slug predators like thrushes and blackbirds, should rise and nature will get the balance right in the long term.