PEOPLE are being urged to report sightings of a floating weed affecting Lancashire's canals.

An 'explosion of duck weed' has hit the county's waterways, according to the Canal and River Trust. It is described as being 'like a garden lawn, pea soup, or even green porridge'.

The CRT says nationally it is removing about 70 tonnes of the floating weed each week to ensure the 'thick carpet' it creates does not harm aquatic wildlife.

If left to thrive, thousands of tiny plants can accumulate and starve the waterway of oxygen and sunlight. The weed is not harmful to humans.

Teams recently cleared a part of the Lancaster Canal, south of Lancaster.