Is Japanese knotweed growing near YOU? Check our interactive map of the UK to ... trends now
There are over 50,000 known Japanese knotweed infestations throughout the UK.
The invasive plant is notorious for its propensity to spread and cause damage to building structures. It is difficult and expensive to eliminate it.
Just last week, a court determined accountant Jeremy Henderson failed to mention the presence of knotweed before selling his old house, meaning he's now facing a potential court bill worth £200,000.
The fast-growing weed was brought to Britain by the Victorians as an ornamental garden plant and to line railway tracks to stabilise the soil.
While it is controlled by fungus and insects in Asia, it has no natural enemies in the UK, where it can wreak havoc on gardens.
Further outside of the capital city, St Helens and Liverpool are also dealing with significant infestations, with thousands of known cases in the vicinity of the former
A furniture designer who bought his £700,000 dream home only to find Japanese knotweed lurking behind the garden shed (pictured) has successfully sued the seller
Jonathan Downing (left), 30, bought his three-bedroom house in affluent Prince George's Avenue, Raynes Park, south-west London, from chartered accountant Jeremy Henderson (right), 41, in August 2018
Jonathan Downing, 30, bought his three-bedroom house in affluent Prince George's Avenue, Raynes Park, south-west London, from chartered accountant Jeremy Henderson, 41, in August 2018.
Mr Downing, who trained at the world-renowned Chippendale International School of Furniture, planned to make his home in the Edwardian terrace, as well as building a workshop in the garden.
But while tidying the garden soon after moving in, he discovered Japanese knotweed canes behind a large St John's wort bush which was growing next to the shed.
Residents feared the fast-growing invasive plant which took root in Brickfields Park, part of the King George V Playing Fields, would decrease the value of their properties, and claim the council has repeatedly ignored their pleas for help.
They said the eyesore weed, which has grown to six feet in the park, is invading their homes and needed to be tackled.
Aerial photo shows the giant Japanese Knotweed plant which took hold in Brickfields Park in Worcester in July last year
Retired gardner, Dennis Hodson lives in a £200,000 bungalow which backs onto the fields which was overtaken by Japanese Knotweed
An aerial photo shows the knotweed bush in relation to Dennis Hodson's garden
Invasive plant specialists at Environet track the regions in the UK suffering the most from Japanese knotweed infestations.
The data is published on an interactive map which allows users to track how many known infestations there are in a certain area.
In London, Notting Hill, Ealing, Kilburn, Camden, Brixton and Streatham are
