I READ with much interest your report 'Spread of poisonous weed sparks alert' (August 5). You have certainly hit a raw point with me. As horse owners we are only too aware of common ragwort and of what it can do to animals who inadvertently eat it in hay and other food etc.

We had a pony who suffered and had to be destroyed after having eaten this during a number of years - a pony that came to us from a rescue sanctuary. It affects their lungs and other organs and it is awful to see animals suffer.

So why isn't York council getting rid of it along the roadside? Oh yes it looks very pretty at this time of year with its yellow flowers! As you ride along it is all over. I have seen it a lot, especially in the Holtby and Warthill areas.

Perhaps the council could get their men to pull it up and burn it. This would be one way of stopping it spreading into our fields. We pull it up and burn it but, along the roadsides, it is allowed to grow rampantly and seed constantly. Is it really the landowners' fault that the weed is spreading? The council should act now.

P Bean,

Ashbourne House,

Murton, York.

Updated: 11:28 Thursday, August 18, 2005