SCOTS environmentalists have launched an innovative bid to destroy the spread of giant hogweed by introducing sheep to munch their way through the dangerous plants.

The weed – which can grow to 23ft – causes painful burns, destroys the surrounding environment and can even cause blindness if its sap makes contact with eyes.

However, after 12 years of trying to kill the weed with chemical spray around the River Deveron in Aberdeenshire, chiefs at the Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Trust reckon they can solve the problem with black-faced sheep.

Volunteer Robin Vasey, 61, will no longer have to endure the painful blisters he suffered from fighting his way around the river banks outside Huntly, Aberdeenshire, spraying Glyphosate after he witnessed sheep grazing on the giant hogweed seemingly in no pain.

Mr Vasey said: "I noticed there were some fields where sheep graze giant hogweed in the early stages when it's just coming into leaf. They tend to graze it up till the end of June before the plant starts to grow rapidly and the sap starts to rise."

He pointed to research in Denmark that found some goats and black-faced sheep eat the weed before then with ease because the pigmentation in their skin prevents them from blistering.

He added: "We've bought 20 sheep thanks to some funds from Scottish Natural Heritage. We're going to see what happens and if we do prove it's a success after five to 10 years more areas will be having sheep put in."