RANGERS at the Grand Western Canal Country Park are urging people to help beat invasive alien plants.

Several non-native species have been dumped into the canal in recent years by people getting rid of their pond or aquarium.

Many of the plants, from garden and aquatic centres, originate in Australasia, Asia or South America and in the wild in this country can completely take over a waterway.

Often they have no natural predators or diseases and can out-compete native species and smother the water surface or canal banks.

Country Park Manager Mark Baker said: "Until recently the canal has been fairly fortunate in avoiding some of the nastiest invaders.

"However, the canal is currently home to Water Fern, Water Soldier, Parrot's Feather, Fringed Lily and small-leaved Duckweed, none of which is native to this area."

The most worrying in the Sampford Peverell area are Parrots Feather, which looks like a patch of green feathers emerging from the water and Water Soldier, which rises to the surface after growing on the canal bed.

Fringed Water Lily abounds near Halberton and is beginning to spread to other parts.

Cllr Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council Executive Member for Environment, said: "This control work is expensive and time-consuming and may take many years.

"It also diverts precious time and funding away from the main task of maintaining and improving the country park.

"I appeal to anyone who is getting rid of the contents of their pond or aquarium not to tip them into the canal.

"It may seem like a humane act, but not only are the fish unlikely to survive in the wild, but it can devastate the natural balance of plants and animals in the canal."