A SOLUTION may have been found for a weed problem which has blighted a pond for years.

Unsightly duckweed in Warner's Pond, on Woodford Green High Road, could soon be a thing of the past if a new solution is adopted but clearing the pond manually is still the best option, according to the council.

The fast-growing weed has been a problem at the pond ever since it was de-silted in March 2006 and partly re-filled with mains water - which is higher in nutrients that promote plant growth.

In April residents called for the introduction of exotic fish species Grass Carp to help rid the pond of the weed.

But although the council admitted the fish might be able to eat their way through the problem it was felt the carp would create an imbalance in the ecosystem which could cause further problems in future.

Geoff Stimpson, chairman of the Woodford Green Amenity Group, said bales of barley straw could be the problem solver.

He said: "One of our group members saw a pond in Norfolk recently where it had been used successfully.

"Bales are put around the perimeter and there is something in the straw, a chemical which reacts with the weed and gets rid of it, I'm not sure how but apparently it works."

In February Woodford Green MP Iain Duncan Smith joined the debate on what would help rid the pond of the weed.

After the latest step he told the Guardian: “I congratulate the residents on finding this solution.

"The duckweed has been a very unsightly problem which has blighted the natural beauty of Warner’s Pond and the surrounding area.

"The barley straw solution is incredibly good value and I very much hope the Council will be able to fund this project.”

On Tuesday night a meeting of Redbridge Council's Area Two committee council officer Cliff Woolnoth said control measures the council had looked at would be about £3,000 a year.

Mr Stimpson, of Beresford Drive, said barley straw is about £4 a bale and he believes about ten bales would be needed.

He said he is waiting for an officer from the council's environmental team to contact him so he can pitch the idea.

A Redbridge Council spokeswoman told the Guardian: "While barley straw is extremely good at controlling blue green algae and we use it on other lakes and ponds in the borough, it isn’t affective in controlling duckweed.

"Our nature conservation officers have researched a number of methods to manage the duckweed at Warner's Pond and the most productive is to remove some of the weed by hand or machine, which is best done when it is in full bloom.

"We have previously worked with local residents to clear the pond by hand when it is in full bloom and are hoping to organise similar event later this year and we are looking at appropriate equipment to make sure the clearing has maximum impact."