Children severely burned by Hogweed plants in Greater Manchester parks

Five children have been left with severe burns after coming into contact with a toxic plant growing in parks.

Four teenage boys brushed against some giant hogweed when they were playing in Moses Gate Country Park, Bolton, on Saturday.

A seven year old girl has been left with a permanent scar after her arm blistered from brushing against hogweed during a family walk at Clifton Country Park, Salford.

Their families are now warning of the dangers of the plant, which contains chemicals known as photo-sensitising furanocoumarins.

These chemicals prevent the body from protecting itself from UV light and can lead to severe burns.

In all of the cases, a red rash developed on the children’s skin, which grew increasingly more painful and then began to blister

Two of the boys , Reid Daley, 13, and Conor Knott, 13, required hospital treatment and are still taking painkillers.

Doctors initially thought it was an allergic reaction and sent them back home, their families say.

They were later diagnosed with severe burns after being rushed to A&E.

Reid's stepdad Mathew Cocklin said:

Annie Challinor, 7, had been walking her family when she came into contact with the plant at Clifton Country Park.

She suffered the reaction two days later. Her parents realised what had happened after looking online.

Annie's mother, Rebecca said:

A spokesperson from Bolton council said:

It can take as long as seven years for the skin to repair itself after a hogweed burn and if the hogweed sap is rubbed into the eyes, it can cause temporary or even permanent blindness.

The medical advice If you touch a giant hogweed is to cover the affected area, and wash it with soap and water.

The blisters heal very slowly and can develop into phytophotodermatitis, a type of skin rash which flares up in sunlight.

If you feel unwell or have a severe reaction you should see a doctor.