A DISABLED man says his faith has been restored in humanity after a Good Samaritan came forward to help him get rid of a giant toxic plant swamping his greenhouse.

Malcolm Hughes, 64, was left baffled by the arrival of the fast-growing plant which had leaves the size of dinner plates and was starting to destroy his 8ft by 6ft garden greenhouse in Shrewton.

After appearing in the Journal, readers came forward to identify the plant as being part of the Datura family and warned it could be highly poisonous, especially if ingested.

But Mr Hughes, who is a leg amputee, was unable to afford the services of a privately-contracted gardener and feared what would happen if it was not dealt with.

Last week a Journal reader came to the rescue, uprooted the plant and took it away to be destroyed.

Mr Hughes said: “Words of appreciation fail me but I can only express my sincere thanks to the Journal reader who went out of his way to help me on a wet, dank, miserable day, and without charge. he said.

“Those man’s actions have restored my faith in society. I thank both him and the Journal so very much.

“It was causing me a good deal of worry, my greenhouse was bursting at the seams. It was a Datura inoxia and its seeds and leaves are toxic and poisonous.

"If it had spread in the village, it could have had extremely serious consequences. “

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, took the trouble of ascertaining my address and said he had previous experience in dealing with similar plants, and from reports in the Journal he had realised that the plant was causing me considerable concern.

“Within two hours of his call, he had arrived and cut it down, passing the branches to a friend of mine, Colin Pope, who placed them in a plastic dustbin.

"Its root was also removed and it was all taken away with the Good Samaritan saying he would ensure its safe disposal.

“It was amazing how quick he was – it was really worrying me.”