RESIDENTS have raised concerns that a highly invasive weed is spreading out of control on two adjoining streets in Bradford.

Private landlord Mushtaq Ahmed is demanding action before the Japanese Knotweed spreads to one of his properties on Lennon Drive, Manningham, and other residents have admitted they are unsure how to deal with the dreaded weed.

Incommunities, which provides social housing in the area, has vowed to tackle the problem on any properties it owns, and urged private homeowners to seek professional help to curb the spread.

Mr Ahmed said the plant had spread from around half way down Lennon Drive, which backs onto Aberford Road, right up to Whetley Lane.

When the Telegraph & Argus visited the area, one section of the plant, contained within the garden of a private house, had reached heights of more than six feet.

The weed could also be seen at the front and back of properties up both streets towards Whetley Lane, with a small section of the plant coming up through the pavement on the main road.

Mr Ahmed said he had managed to prevent the weed from reaching his rental property so far, but wanted immediate action to stop further damage to the neighbourhood.

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"People don't understand that knotweed can destroy and devalue their properties," he said.

"I've treated it before, but you have to spray it for at least two or three years.

"People cut it, but that's the wrong thing to do, it just comes back.

"This needs to be dealt with now before it spreads even further.

"Residents need to be educated on how to deal with the problem because a lot of people don't know and they could be making it worse."

Veronica Kiffin, who has lived on Lennon Drive for 33 years and is now an Incommunities tenant, said of the plants: "You can't move them and the council won't take them, what are you supposed to do?"

The plant is described as a bamboo-like invader with especially tough roots which can penetrate concrete, brickwork, and foundations, sometimes causing extensive damage to houses.

Although prompt action is advised to control any spread, there is no statutory requirement to control or eradicate the plant, or even report its presence.

In response to the concerns of residents in the area, an Incommunities spokesman said: "Our green team respond to all customer reports of Japanese Knotweed as it is a particularly invasive plant.

"The team is carrying out treatment at one of our properties.

"They will also be contacting the owners of other private properties in the immediate area where knotweed is also evident.

"As a responsible landlord, Incommunities would urge our customers to report knotweed to their housing officer so we can tackle the matter as soon as possible.

"If you are an owner occupier or live in a private rented property where this plant is growing, we would strongly recommend that you seek professional advice to tackle the issue."

Andrew Virtue, a biodiversity technical officer for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire, said although knotweed could be treated with herbicides available from garden centres, specialist contractors should be sought to inject the stems of plants if the infestation is of a significant size.

"Japanese Knotweed is like an iceberg, what you see above the ground is only about one tenth of what is going on," he said.

"You really don't want to be digging it up and moving it around, as that increases the risk of spreading.

"But, there is no legal obligation to remove it unless it spreads into the wild."

A spokesman for Bradford Council said the authority had no official guidance on how to deal with the plant.