Knotty problem of knotweed

Madam, - Despite all the talk about the invasive Japanese knotweed, no one has come up with a way of getting rid of it.

I have an extensive bed of it and have tried continuous cutting, burning, spraying with week-killers such as Roundup - all to no avail. I believe the problem is that the hollow stem is full of water which dilutes any weed-killer. Digging it out is no good as any tiny piece of root left in the ground comes up two to three feet high the next year.

If any readers have an answer to this problem they should share it, as the plant is spreading quickly. - Yours, etc,

PAUL BENNETT,

Letterfrack,

Co Galway.