HORSE owners in the Bradford area have been warned of a rise in the seasonal problem of sycamore poisoning this year.

The condition, caused by eating sycamore seeds, can be fatal but the scale of the problem varies from year to year and it is not unusual for vets to report no cases in this part of the country.

However, there is a national rise in cases this winter and Keighley-based Aireworth Vets say they have already had a couple of cases, which is unusual.

Practice manager Alice MacNab said: “No-one knows why some years are worse than others but it is suspected of being linked with something in the leaves affected by the climate.

“We are seeing cases so are warning horse owners what to look out for,” she said.

Horse owners are advised to keep their animals away from sycamore trees.