But two councils have explained what residents and visitors should do if they spot the plant growing.
The plant, which produces a harmful sap, can grow in excess of 12ft Jeff Talbot, clean and green manager at Durham County Council, urged the public not to go near suspected Giant Hogweed. He said: “Hogweed is a particularly dangerous plant and our advice to the public is not to go near or touch it. Setting out what steps residents should take, Mr Talbot urged members of the public to report any sightings on public land to the council. He said: “Anyone who thinks they have seen hogweed growing in a public area of the county can contact us via our website.
The incidents occurred in Newton Aycliffe and are being treated by police as separate, unrelated incidents. The incidents occurred on the night of Tuesday, December 29 and the early hours of Wednesday, December 30. Considerable damage was done to several Great Aycliffe Town Council areas. The damage was done by a vehicle riding around the town from Warren Plantation to Woodham Park, Woodham Burn and St. Oswald s walk. A fence at the bottom of Burn Lane was also badly damaged. Durham Police confirmed that there are two separate incidents being investigated. The Burn Lane vehicle incident is being investigated as a separate incident, unrelated to the damage across other areas of the town.