The dreaded Japanese knotweed has been spreading its hated roots through a north Dublin suburb and could devalue house prices in the area.

The aggressive plant has been building up in Stoneybatter on the O'Gardens site of the North Circular Road.

Dublin City Council have been spraying the plant in their areas but local homeowners will have to pay their own way to remove it.

Getting rid of the pesky plant can cost hundreds, and it has been known to take years to fully get rid of it due to its deep roots that can grow under building foundations.

Houses infested with the Japanese knotweed can be hard to sell, or secure mortgages on.

Japanese Knotweed

One local resident whose house had it growing through her walls told The Irish Times that the council told her she was on her own despite suspicion that it spread from their land.

Labour's Joe Costello sent a letter to locals saying that the plant was “spreading rapidly” and that authorities “have no coherent policy for dealing with it”.

Dublin City Council told the paper that they are looking at the situation at O'Devaney Gardens and any weed growing on private land would be a "matter for the landlord or tenant".

The issue is set to be brought up at the next meeting.