THE Herald’s story about monstrous toxic plants that have invaded an Ardrossan green space brought back painful memories for one Kilwinning man.

When 79-year-old John Hume read last week’s ‘Toxic invasion’ headline and saw our pictures of giant hogweed at Elm Park, childhood memories of his encounter with the vicious weed came flooding back.

“Me and my mate were playing in the sand pits at Shewalton and there was acres of the giant hogweed there, hundreds of them.

“We were dressed to go swimming with nothing but sneakers and bathing suits on, and we thought it would be good fun to knock down these big weeds with their three foot diameter flower heads – it was magic!” But next morning both John and his friend who were 12 at the time woke up to find themselves covered from head to food in painful red raw weals.

Another day later and the rash had turned into huge liquid-filled blisters.

“They were as big as your hand. We sent for the doctor and she had to come in two or three times a day to burst the blisters and drain the fluid off.

“It was terrible. We had a month in bed and even after that we weren’t allowed out in daylight as any blink of sun would cause the blisters to reappear.” Bizarrely, the injuries he suffered as a boy have plagued John for 70 years and restrict his enjoyment of outdoor life to this day, especially during summer months.

“Ever since then it got slowly less and less until now, if I’m in the sun, I get a rash on my hands on the side of my face.

“I’ve had to stay out of the sun every year since.

"I fly fish at the Dam but at the moment I can’t go as the place is covered with the things.

“The seeds float in the water and if I touch them I get blistered.

“When folk are going out with bathing suits and so on in the sun I’ve got to stay covered.” The story of Lauren Fuller from Shotts, who was badly burned by the giant hogweed’s vile sap, made national front pages last week.

The plant also caused alarm to dog walkers in Ardrossan’s Elm Park where the giant hogweed has started to take hold along the Stanley Burn.

Visitors to our Facebook page commented: “They were there last year as well. I live next to this park. The whole park is in need of attention, overgrown paths and when it rains the paths all flood making them impossible to pass! The only decent part of the park the kids could play on has now been given up for allotments!” (Esther Vogwell) “My dad works for the railway and we walk our dog through the Dam a lot. He was unimpressed that the ones that were dead last year still had their heads on. Hogweed shouldn’t just be sprayed. The heads need bagged and cut off as once they have flowered they just spread the seeds. No surprise it grew back so quickly and so much more.” (Lisa Paterson) “Not just Ardrossan they’re all over Ayrshire at the moment.” (Danny Cameron)