AREAS of Belton have been overrun by a fast-growing and invasive plant which is killing off all other plant life.At least two very large areas of Himalayan Balsam (nicknamed by some Policeman's Helmet) are expanding, one on the banks of the Stepshort Dyke and the other by the dyke that runs behind the Station Road South houses and off Sandy Lane - and this area is now 20ft wide and runs for about 150 yards along the dyke bank.

AREAS of Belton have been overrun by a fast-growing and invasive plant which is killing off all other plant life.

At least two very large areas of Himalayan Balsam (nicknamed by some Policeman's Helmet) are expanding, one on the banks of the Stepshort Dyke and the other by the dyke that runs behind the Station Road South houses and off Sandy Lane - and this area is now 20ft wide and runs for about 150 yards along the dyke bank.

The Broads Authority have asked to be told of the plant but it was reported to the parish council that when contacted the authority stated the two areas were outside their area of control.

And Great Yarmouth Borough Council, although aware of the plant, have no funds to tackle eradication and there is currently no compulsion to destroy the plant.

While the plant is pretty to view and harmless to humans and animals it totally covers any area killing off all other plant life and grows to a height in excess of three metres which it is doing in Belton.

It has up to 3,000 seeds per pod which are ejected over a large area, and making the only sure way of disposing the plant which is an annual and re-grows each year, controlled burning of the locality.