Help needed to track river plant

People who visit a river are being asked to keep an eye out for a plant which rangers are trying to clear.

Leicester City Council Riverside Rangers are working with the Environment Agency to tackle Floating Pennywort on the River Soar.

The plant is originally from America and grows quickly and densely.

Officials said they need help in locating clusters of the plant along the banks which can cause obstructions for boats and fishing.

'Dense carpets'

The plant has been found on the river at a number of sites including Aylestone Mill and Freemen's Weir with small patches along the whole of the city section of the river.

Peter Flavel, riverside ranger, said: "We have been working with the other agencies for around 18 months to monitor this problem.

"It has become clear that while we can remove large clusters, other clusters are developing, right along the river.

"We need the help of river users and volunteers to help keep us informed of these new clusters so that we can take action and stop this plant becoming totally uncontrollable."

The plant forms dense carpets of foliage on the water surface and was probably brought to the UK for garden ponds.