Isobel Chetwood of Knutsford, Cheshire, discovered bamboo shoots bursting through a raised bed in her garden, having spread from her neighbour’s property.

When weedkiller didn't work, a mechanical digger was needed to excavate the network of roots embedded beneath her patio. It cost a jaw-dropping £10,000 to rid both properties of the pesky plants, according to plant removal specialist Environet.

"I’d advise anyone thinking about planting bamboo to avoid it at all costs," says Isbobel. "It shouldn’t be sold at garden centres...or at least not without a clear warning."

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