New legislation to tackle the unchecked growth and spread of the deadly plant ragwort has taken a step closer the statute books.

Spen MP Mike Wood was in the House of Commons to support the Equine Welfare (Ragwort Control) Bill as it cleared its final stages before moving on to the House of Lords at the end of the last session.

The Bill aims to protect horses, ponies and donkeys from the dangers of ragwort poisoning by introducing a new system to make controlling it easier.

Mr Wood said: "This Bill has made a lot of progress this year but there is still a lot of work ahead. In spite of the prediction that 1,500 horses will be poisoned by ragwort by the end of this year, I suspect the Bill will attract some hostility in the House of Lords."