Madam, - In response to Paul Bennett's query (September 6th), I managed to get rid of Japanese knotweed, though I didn't have too much of it and circumstances at the time were favourable.
Following a blood test, I asked the phlebotomist if I could have the used syringe (without the needle). She gave me it when she heard why I wanted it.
A few days later I went to the area of knotweed and cut it to about a foot high. Then I injected every stem within reach with Roundup. Very little grew the following year and what did was treated in the same way. I still have the syringe, but no knotweed.
I am delighted that one of my friends warned me about the weed when it started to appear and it did not get a chance to become a chronic pest. - Yours, etc,
M. FITZPATRICK,
Mount Merrion,
Co Dublin.